Section: «Poems»
Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings:
artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.);
a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").
To Captain H------D, Of The 65th Regiment
SAY, muse divine, can hostile scenes delightThe warrior's bosom in the fields of fight?Lo! here the christian and the hero joinWith mutual grace to..
© Phillis Wheatley
To S. M. A Young African Painter, On Seeing His Works
TO show the lab'ring bosom's deep intent,And thought in living characters to paint,When first thy pencil did those beauties give,And breathing..
© Phillis Wheatley
To A Clergyman On The Death Of His Lady
WHERE contemplation finds her sacred spring,Where heav'nly music makes the arches ring,Where virtue reigns unsully'd and divine,Where wisdom thron'd..
© Phillis Wheatley
To Maecenas
MAECENAS, you, beneath the myrtle shade,Read o'er what poets sung, and shepherds play'd.What felt those poets but you feel the same?Does not your..
© Phillis Wheatley
To The Right Honourable William, Earl Of Dartmouth, His Majesty's Principal Secretary Of The State For North-America
HAIL, happy day, when, smiling like the morn,Fair Freedom rose New-England to adorn:The northern clime beneath her genial ray,Dartmouth..
© Phillis Wheatley
To The Rev. Dr. Thomas Amory, On Reading His Sermons On Daily Devotion, In Which That Duty Is Recommended And Assisted
TO cultivate in ev'ry noble mindHabitual grace, and sentiments refin'd,Thus while you strive to mend the human heart,Thus while the heav'nly precepts..
© Phillis Wheatley
o A Lady On The Death Of Three Relations
We trace the pow'r of Death from tomb to tomb,And his are all the ages yet to come.'Tis his to call the planets from on high,To blacken Phoebus, and..
© Phillis Wheatley
To The King's Most Excellent Majesty 1768
YOUR subjects hope, dread Sire--The crown upon your brows may flourish long,And that your arm may in your God be strong!O may your sceptre num'rous..
© Phillis Wheatley
On The Death Of J.C. An Infant
No more the flow'ry scenes of pleasure rife,Nor charming prospects greet the mental eyes,No more with joy we view that lovely faceSmiling..
© Phillis Wheatley
On The Death Of The Rev. Dr. Sewell, 1769
Ere yet the morn its lovely blushes spread,See Sewell number'd with the happy dead.Hail, holy man, arriv'd th' immortal shore,Though we shall hear..
© Phillis Wheatley
On The Death Of Dr. Samuel Marshall
THROUGH thickest glooms look back, immortalshade,On that confusion which thy death has made:Or from Olympus' height look down, and seeA Town involv'd..
© Phillis Wheatley
Thoughts On The Works Of Providence
A R I S E, my soul, on wings enraptur'd, riseTo praise the monarch of the earth and skies,Whose goodness and benificence appearAs round its centre..
© Phillis Wheatley
An Answer To The Rebus, By The Author Of These Poems
The poet asks, and Phillis can't refuseTo show th' obedience of the Infant muse.She knows the Quail of most inviting tasteFed Israel's army in the..
© Phillis Wheatley
Niobe In Distress For Her Children Slain By Apollo, From Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book Vi. And From A View Of The Painting Of Mr. Richard Wilson
Apollo's wrath to man the dreadful springOf ills innum'rous, tuneful goddess, sing!Thou who did'st first th' ideal pencil give,And taught'st the..
© Phillis Wheatley
To The University Of Cambridge
While an intrinsic ardor prompts to write,The muses promise to assist my pen;'Twas not long since I left my native shoreThe land of errors, and..
© Phillis Wheatley
On The Death Of Rev. Mr. George Whitefield
HAIL, happy saint, on thine immortal throne,Possest of glory, life, and bliss unknown;We hear no more the music of thy tongue,Thy wonted auditories..
© Phillis Wheatley
To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On The Death Of His Daughter
WHILE deep you mourn beneath the cypress-shadeThe hand of Death, and your dear daughterlaidIn dust, whose absence gives your tears to flow,And racks..
© Phillis Wheatley
To A Gentleman On His Voyage To Great-Britain For The Recovery Of His Health
WHILE others chant of gay Elysian scenes,Of balmy zephyrs, and of flow'ry plains,My song more happy speaks a greater name,Feels higher motives and a..
© Phillis Wheatley
Isaiah Lxiii
Say, heav'nly muse, what king or mighty God,That moves sublime from Idumea's road?In Bosrah's dies, with martial glories join'd,His purple vesture..
© Phillis Wheatley
n The Death Of A Youn Gentleman
WHO taught thee conflict with the pow'rs of night,To vanquish satan in the fields of light?Who strung thy feeble arms with might unknown,How great..
© Phillis Wheatley
To A Lady On The Death Of Her Husband
GRIM monarch! see, depriv'd of vital breath,A young physician in the dust of death:Dost thou go on incessant to destroy,Our griefs to double, and lay..
© Phillis Wheatley
oliath Of Gath
SAMUEL, Chap. xvii.YE martial pow'rs, and all ye tuneful nine,Inspire my song, and aid my high design.The dreadful scenes and toils of war I..
© Phillis Wheatley
To A Lady And Her Children
O'erwhelming sorrow now demands my song:From death the overwhelming sorrow sprung.What flowing tears? What hearts with grief opprest?What sighs on..
© Phillis Wheatley
An Hymn To The Evening
SOON as the sun forsook the eastern mainThe pealing thunder shook the heav'nly plain;Majestic grandeur! From the zephyr's wing,Exhales the incense of..
© Phillis Wheatley
On Recollection
MNEME begin. Inspire, ye sacred nine,Your vent'rous Afric in her great design.Mneme, immortal pow'r, I trace thy spring:Assist my strains, while I..
© Phillis Wheatley