Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley was the first black poet in America to publish a book. She was born around 1753 in West Africa and brought to New England in 1761, where John Wheatley of Boston purchased her as a gift for his wife. Although they brought her into the household as a slave, the Wheatleys took a great interest in Phillis's education. Many biographers have pointed to her precocity; Wheatley learned to read and write English by the age of nine, and she became familiar with Latin, Greek, the Bible, and selected classics at an early age. She began writing poetry at thirteen, modeling her work on the English poets of the time, particularly John Milton, Thomas Gray, and Alexander Pope. Her poem "On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield" was published as a broadside in cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia and garnered Wheatley national acclaim. This poem was also printed in London. Over the next few years, she would print a number of broadsides elegizing prominent English and colonial leaders.

Phillis Wheatley was the first black poet in America to publish a book. She was born around 1753 in West Africa and brought to New England in 1761, where John Wheatley of Boston purchased her as a gift for his wife. Although they brought her into the household as a slave, the Wheatleys took a great interest in Phillis's education. Many biographers have pointed to her precocity; Wheatley learned to read and write English by the age of nine, and she became familiar with Latin, Greek, the Bible, and selected classics at an early age. She began writing poetry at thirteen, modeling her work on the English poets of the time, particularly John Milton, Thomas Gray, and Alexander Pope. Her poem "On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield" was published as a broadside in cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia and garnered Wheatley national acclaim. This poem was also printed in London. Over the next few years, she would print a number of broadsides elegizing prominent English and colonial leaders.

Wheatley's doctor suggested that a sea voyage might improve her delicate health, so in 1771 she accompanied Nathaniel Wheatley on a trip to London. She was well received in London and wrote to a friend of the "unexpected and unmerited civility and complaisance with which I was treated by all." In 1773, thirty-nine of her poems were published in London as Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. The book includes many elegies as well as poems on Christian themes; it also includes poems dealing with race, such as the often-anthologized "On Being Brought from Africa to America." She returned to America in 1773.

After Mr. and Mrs. Wheatley died, Phillis was left to support herself as a seamstress and poet. It is unclear precisely when Wheatley was freed from slavery, although scholars suggest it occurred between 1774 and 1778. In 1776, Wheatley wrote a letter and poem in support of George Washington; he replied with an invitation to visit him in Cambridge, stating that he would be "happy to see a person so favored by the muses." In 1778, she married John Peters, who kept a grocery store. They had three children together, all of whom died young. Because of the war and the poor economy, Wheatley experienced difficulty publishing her poems. She solicited subscribers for a new volume that would include thirty-three new poems and thirteen letters, but was unable to raise the funds. Phillis Wheatley, who had once been internationally celebrated, died alone in a boarding house in 1784. She was thirty-one years old. Many of the poems for her proposed second volume disappeared and have never been recovered.

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without tongue sing abode one bow joy lay woe upon david could world face morn youth away ethereal human nature appears sighs resign pleasure joys refulgent flies wind mighty rose northern fire turn cause far goliath sun shine surprise hero flight sigh breath phoebus field main shines made sprung pray never whence raise tomb sweet mortal years wond dart aurora rising leave same if mother feels plains heard left vengeance war reply fight lays most obey royal parents around fatal hail good babe feel sooth only bear sway shalt blissful wonders inspire fix vast lies numbers laid last almighty infant tow wisdom along beauteous soft find fields command sweep mental twas brought saviour some sable die refin spirit sorrow saint sky whom niobe native tis foe other foes know armies dark sire israel tribute friend sees ning tear wide adorn ray lost appear lord hearts cruel snatch afric parent past sir ask deplore ns favours living spring sight nations brother reigns care beyond words thro endless nobler various tell course whole iron gold delight silken pinions glowing mercy taught equal holy reason kind sons apollo latona theban late ling found stood wrath fall blood go said giant music gives gods laurel graceful dire smile cry receive welcome frame britannia england grateful unfold languish splendors morning mournful wishes alone best seat pangs sorrows prophet deep paint live conduct thrice peace shades radiance offspring dust gloom seas state into near embrace seek stand attend graces lov behind unbounded raptur full sceptre sov radiant sea star passions sought winds mneme trace wish free shade loss mine indignant smiles hills rest another struck sound trembling back cries comes brows martial dreadful began came fled chief notes below birth impart nine art close glows well pay told old sin felt groan pain heir superior end regions deny vale town glorious shield mourns reins seeks america complain chain mov belov due renew since fleeting coursers poet verse serene future move glow tender demand pencil creation seraphic pensive thousand gloomy ample mingled tyrant triumphant springs things methinks share hopes wonder height time guide call forms triumph empyreal rolling worlds gay orders thought veins try deck winter subject knew amory muses mourner blessings sleep ere recollection faint fond anguish look flows restrain raging wat strings daughters rich midst stern impetuous woes bereft weeps falls neck fires jove amphion shaft together divinely hair propitious pen tempest waves virtues golden columbia form ascending flame awful storm play fury returns load done arm battle took philistia jesse sword honour rays shake sisters thunder wing place deign refuse waste known taste vanquish instant unnumber fill replies way joyful bosoms brighter doth prey pleasures ii iii hour groans feather out veil yields hence health slow clime burns supreme hated common case others thanks griefs crowns fiery beauties pursue ardent elate gates language intent six age sister perish depart filial explore profound gentle fain heaven goodness better acts choir force palace thund range frowns resume descend ruler spirits bed aspire tides flowing redemption scornful remember angelic maecenas starry leonard tumultuous tune mounts confin millions orb makes gen space active strife constant voice vigour sewell oft secret sure gracious enraptur infinite rocks billows part down lovely control incessant num throng roar sweeter loves shakes revere number rings self complaints pass mansions torn shrine unhappy amidst gone decks less blaze ceas impending deadly wretched tho lofty phrygian beautiful thebes maids altars cadmus drops fates spare sublime image sustain enthron ocean wild work enough tuneful design write vocal sage warrior horror set shouts scene orient greet prostrate gain accents days thence hast omnipotence pity destroy mandate hurl doom assembly meet trembled just stone passage sand many promis remain array terror ran victor right troops jehovah body conquest armour monster helmet plac coat spear proud defy stripling lion beasts staff assist demands progress display illustrious beams scarce begun forsook shook grandeur streams red draws terrestrial azure word string lyre prove fail friendship fed among regal flashes line sent unseen britain green beauty slain laws fresh run angels press vice base actions rush resound cannot vital clasp yon faith ascend prepare planets phantom op tempt boast pride rosy hue falling opprest extended souls mark temptation genial dartmouth congratulates expands faction desir sick expir owl sadness caves wrongs grievance unredress wanton tyranny lawless meant enslave peruse feeling understood seeming excruciating molest labour steel misery seiz tyrannic sanction patriot fane upwards lab noble survey calm balmy seals domain conqu ror bestow kingdoms present madam aside fountain dry wafted pains witness stars friends gave murm waft enlarg truth growing beatitude aim born converse youthful steps higher pomp order potent helicon heights attempts strikes wand fetters senses bind soaring rove measure grasp flourish bid riches honours dews gems disclose nectar leader cheeks pure stream mountains reluctant pleasing views tempests damp pagan benighted understand neither colour diabolic christians black cain immense guard evil subjects poets sung fly forgive mount pole ...




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