Born of Woman (Masterplots II: Poetry, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Wisława Szymborska
- First Published: 1967
- Type of Work: Lyric
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric poetry
- Subjects: Children, Mothers, Parents and children, Europe or Europeans, Childbirth, Life, philosophy of, Life and death, Poland or Polish people
The Poem
“Born of Woman” is a poem in free verse, containing forty-five lines divided into sixteen stanzas of varying length. The ending on the Polish word of the original title, “Urodzony,” makes it clear at the outset that the subject is a man; the poem represents the musings of his wife or lover, who has just caught her first glimpse of his mother. Her words are directed inward; she is talking to herself.
The first stanza begins abruptly, as if the speaker were somewhat surprised or bemused: “So that is his mother.” What follows is barely a description,...
[The entire page is 1399 words long]
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