Any woman is a beautiful poem portraying the importance

and role of a mother in a family. It tells us about the cares,

worries, and burdens that mothers bear everywhere to hold
their homes in order. The poem is written by the famous Irish
poet and novelist Katherine Tynan.
The poem “any woman” opens with the central metaphor of
house. The mother says that she is the pillar of the house and
the keystone of the arch which holds the structures together
without crumbling apart.
A mother is not only the foundation of the household, which
unites the family together, she is also the life, light, and love
that fills the house. Like the sun which provides warmth to
the earth, she is the fire upon the hearth. The children warm
their hands at her. Without her, the house would be cold and
lifeless and the children would not thrive.
In the 3rd and 4th stanza she explains the inseparable bond
between a mother and her children. The mother acts as the
knot that holds the different strands of the family together.
She holds the children together in the sacred ring of love.
Without the knot of love, many a child could go astray.
Finally, the poet describes the countless chores a mother
performs every day, the immense effort put forth by the
mother to keep her family happy. She decorates the house,
prepares dinner, spins the curtains, and makes their bed. She
acts as a barrier against the wind and snow that protects the
young ones from all dangers and harm. The poem ends with
a silent prayer to God almighty to keep her alive till her
children grow and become independent, realizing that her
care and nurture are necessary for her children to grow up to
be strong individuals.
The poem has a very serious tone and gives a message that
mothers are the backbone of the family and her value is
often underestimated.
The poem has a simple language. The entire poem is an
exquisite metaphor. The imagery is great. The woman doing
all kinds of job and standing guard at the same time make us
admire her capabilities. Katherine has painted a fine picture
of a devoted mother with words.
The poem is in rhyme. Except in the first stanza, the rhyme
scheme is abab.