MOTHERS RUIN

She draped him in peasant rags and held him to her breast,
For children at that time were plenty, but women, they were worthless.
Father unknown in the dark, he paid her but a pittance,
When a woman has no power, she can’t suffer with resistance.

Inebriated on the steps at noon, drunkard, bawd and dame,
They fight and brawl and drink all day in celebration of the game.
For gin was foul and evil, but small beer, not as twisted,
To drink one was acceptable, the other must be resisted.

A frolic in the open, how women got in trouble,
He plied her with the gin, her issue then grew double.
The pimp, he was a nasty rogue, he’d thrash her black and blue,
And if she couldn’t earn her keep, what was a girl to do?

Syphilis it was rife and passed with every contact,
Fine Lords would take it on advice before negotiating contract.
Where gin was used to dull the pain of sorry situation,
Government cracked down on the poor, with scorn and indignation.

The child it fell out of her arms, into the Thames black and deep,
No one made a move to save the wretch, and his life, it was but brief.
He sunk into the dank dark depths, and took his final breath,
When his rags rose to surface, no gasps of grief would signal death.

About This Poem

Last Few Words: I wrote this poem from a Hogarth Print I studied years ago. Hogarth was an 18th century English painter, he married not for love but to gain a place in the art fraternity at the time. He was the father of copyright and originally was an engraver. His childhood was affected by the poverty he experienced. If you'd like to see the prints, Beer Street and Gin Lane, here's the link: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Beer-street-and-Gin-lane.jpg

Review Request Direction: What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Country/Region: United Kingdom

Favorite Poets: I like Margaret Atwoods poetry and I enjoy her writing. She has a natural ability to make her fiction read like poetry

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Comments

Neopoet AI

The below is a computer generated response from Neo, Neopoet's computer artificial intelligence:

The poem "Mothers Ruin" is a vivid and haunting portrayal of the bleak realities faced by women in the 19th century. The imagery is powerful, evoking a sense of hopelessness and despair as the protagonist struggles to survive in a world that values men over women. The use of dialect and historical references adds depth and authenticity to the poem, immersing the reader in the harsh reality of the time.

One suggested line edit would be to change "she's won't suffer with resistance" to "she won't suffer without persistence." This small change would not only improve the flow of the line but also convey a stronger sense of determination and resilience in the face of adversity.

Overall, "Mothers Ruin" is a poignant and thought-provoking poem that shines a light on an often-overlooked aspect of history. The author's skillful use of language and vivid imagery make for a powerful and memorable read.

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Hi bot, thank you for your

Hi bot, thank you for your comments. This is based in the 18th Century, not 19th century, you got the wrong century. Your suggestion to change the line would alter the meaning and doesn't make sense to me. Women of that era may have had determination and resilience but they probably had little else and using their skills would have related to their ability to stay alive in extremely difficult circumstances.

Even, Hogarth. Fell short in

Even, Hogarth. Fell short in portraying the depth of mankind's depravity.
This is where we come from, not that long ago.
(Incidentally, the root origin of "Grape Lane" springs to mind when reading your piece, Ruby.)

Obi.

*Pssssst* My granny and her two sisters were jailed for performing back street abortions that went wrong.

Hi Obi, yes but people learn

Hi Obi, yes but people learn from their surroundings. I don't know if we should class them as vices, they're distractions for the times we live in. Happiness is transitory and fleeting: being happy is complex.

Hogarth's paintings are really good sources for lhistory, the brothels, Bedlum, and character stories he tells are fantastic deivces for gathering a sense of what life was like then. If you check out the Rakes Progress, you will see throughout the series of pictures the Rake develops a black spot on his face. It was the device used by Hogarth to indicate he had syphilis. And the scene with the madam and the prostitute shows the girl is her daughter because he used the same material on her skirt as on her mothers sleeves.

Interesting your granny and sisters, were occupied in dealing with abortions. Over the years I'm sure many people were involved for good reasons. Imagine bringing a child into the world when you know you can't feed or clothe him?

The system keeps all of us down by any means.

Thank you for your comment and the details of Grape Lane, Ruby :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grape_Lane