Before You Were Mine is a poem written by Carol Ann Duffy. It is a nostalgicically-charged reflection on the life of the speaker's mother before she became a mother herself. Through the use of vivid imagery and emotive language, Duffy conveys the speaker's sense of longing for a time before the responsibilities of motherhood weighed on her mother's shoulders.
The poem begins with the speaker describing her mother as a young woman, dancing in a bar on a Saturday night. She describes her mother's carefree and youthful energy, as she moves with abandon to the music. The speaker longs to be able to see her mother in this way, as a woman who is not yet a mother, but rather a young and vibrant individual with her own hopes and dreams.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the many roles her mother has played in her life. She remembers her mother as a young bride, walking down the aisle in a beautiful white dress, and as a tired but loving mother, reading bedtime stories to her children. The speaker recognizes that her mother's life has not always been easy, but she is grateful for the sacrifices her mother has made for her and her siblings.
Despite the speaker's appreciation for all that her mother has done for her, there is a sense of longing for the time before she was born, when her mother was free to be her own person and pursue her own dreams. The speaker wonders what her mother's life might have been like if she had not had children, and imagines her mother traveling the world or pursuing a career.
Ultimately, Before You Were Mine is a poignant tribute to the enduring love between a mother and her child. It highlights the deep bond that exists between a mother and her offspring, as well as the sacrifices that mothers make for their children. At the same time, it serves as a reminder that mothers are individuals in their own right, with their own hopes, dreams, and desires.
