The Allegory of "Huswifery"
Taylor’s most well-known poem is an extended metaphor which becomes a tightly woven (pardon the pun) allegory. To begin with, it is important to know that the title is essentially a synonym for “housekeeping.” The allegory is dependent upon the symbolism of the spinning wheel and the speaker’s cry to become one for God. Thus situated, the staff around which the wool is wound represents the holy word of God, the element which twists the fibers into yarn is the religious conviction of the speaker and the spool his soul. The loom which weaves the thread into cloth serves as the symbol for the ministry of God’s word.
“Upon a Spider Catching a Fly”
This example of one of his poems which Taylor terms an “occurrant” typifies his ability to transforms the triviality of daily occurrences into poems of greater significance. The narrative features a spider and the prey trapped by its web and works out a more elaborate metaphor in which the prey represents humans trapped in the web of deceit spun by Satan who must be dependent only upon the God’s grace for the integrity of the web to either hold and lead to misery or break and lead to redemption.
"The Ebb and the Flow"
Another example of an “occurrant” in which the prosaic detail is the ignition of a flame with flint and steel. Symbolically, the flint and represents God while the speaker situates himself as the kindling catching the sparks which can only catch fire through the fanning of God’s spiritual presence.
“And All Drunk the Same Spirituall Drinke”
An interesting departure from the usual style of Taylor which is almost one continuous extended metaphor for God’s grace manifested through the imagery of liquid. Sea water is strained through sand, rocks sweat, a river appears as the world of God, what once was water is turned into nectar known as beer. And so on. Multiple imagery liquids being conveyed to man are symbolically welded together to create the metaphor for the delivery of grace to man as a spiritual beverage.
“The Glory Of and Grace in the Church Set Out”
The titular glory of God here is symbolized within the flourishing of flowers inside a church. The flowers are varied mixture of colors and fragrances. The natural beauty of the flowers are improved through the artistry of the ministry, but still do not attain their full glory. For that, they are dependent—once again—upon God’s grace. The sacraments of Christ is necessary for the flowers to thrive, but they do not all attain the full flowering of their glory at once; some open to spectacular beauty while others remind as closed buds as they, too, open themselves to the spirit of Christ.
