Write an article about the metaphors used in the poem any women
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Katherine Tynan is an Irish born writer who enriched English literature with her novels and poetry. A short poem of six stanzas ‘Any Woman’ by Katherine Tynan is a beautiful portrayal of woman in her multifaceted role.
The poem celebrates the glory of womanhood – the spirit behind the existence and sustenance of life on earth. The speaker identifies herself with ‘the pillars of the house’, ‘keystone of the arch’, ‘fire upon the hearth’, ‘light of the sun’, ‘heat that warms the earth’, ‘light of love’, ‘twist of the sacred ring’, ‘knot of love’, ‘house from floor to roof’, ‘wall against all danger’ and ‘door against the wind and snow’. The speaker asserts that if she is taken away the whole edifice will be ruined ruining her life too. This bold assertion becomes a confession too – a revelation about the space where a woman enjoys her existence. She is confident that it is her warmth which perpetuates life on earth. The point here is that she is the source of warmth for the entire earth. Her warmth of fertility is the answer to the coldness of the barrenness of the earth. Once she becomes a mother, she spreads her hands supporting her children. She kindles the fire in the hearth and she becomes the source of love and life for the ‘precious’ children. She binds them within the tether of her love and no child can escape from that bondage. Remembering her duties and responsibilities, the speaker now equates herself to the house. She decorates the walls, spreads the board, spins the curtains and makes the bed. She defends the family in all the dangers.
The poet’s concluding note is a prayer to God with a reminder that only a woman is made instrumental in the Birth of Jesus Christ. Her appeal to God is to prolong her life till her children are grown up. The theme, the glorification of womanhood, is an oft repeated one in literature. But ‘Any Woman’ becomes remarkable with its poignant imagery which conveys the theme perfectly. This theme is all the more relevant in the modern world where womanhood is tampered and tarnished mercilessly. Katherine Tynan’s poem becomes a reminder to women also since they too forget their own worth. The poet’s message is clear. Woman becomes the axis around which the entire family revolves. Her role becomes indispensable even to the Birth of Jesus Christ.
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