Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley was an 18th-century poet, enslaved in Boston, and one of the first African Americans to publish a book of poetry. Her work is known for its religious and classical themes, often reflecting on faith and freedom. Biography ↓More ↓

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Phillis Wheatley

A Funeral Poem on the Death of C.E.

Through airy roads he wings his instant flight To purer regions of celestial light; Enlarg'd he sees unnumber'd systems roll, Beneath him sees the universal whole, Planets on planets run their destin'd round, And circling wonders fill the vast profound. Th' ethereal now, and now th' empyreal skies With growing splendors strike his wond'ring eyes: The angels view him with delight unknown, Press his soft hand, and seat him on his throne; Then smilling thus: "To this divine abode, "The seat of saints, of seraphs, and of God, "Thrice welcome thou." The raptur'd babe replies, "Thanks to my God, who snatch'd me to the skies, "E'er vice triumphant had possess'd my heart,

Phillis Wheatley

To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His Daughter

WHILE deep you mourn beneath the cypress-shade The hand of Death, and your dear daughter laid In dust, whose absence gives your tears to flow, And racks your bosom with incessant woe, Let Recollection take a tender part, Assuage the raging tortures of your heart, Still the wild tempest of tumultuous grief, And pour the heav'nly nectar of relief: Suspend the sigh, dear Sir, and check the groan, Divinely bright your daughter's Virtues shone: How free from scornful pride her gentle mind, Which ne'er its aid to indigence declin'd! Expanding free, it sought the means to prove Unfailing charity, unbounded love! She unreluctant flies to see no more

An Hymn To Humanity (To S.P.G. Esp)

Biography

She was born in West Africa and taken to America as a child, where she was enslaved by the Wheatley family of Boston. Taught to read and write, she began composing poetry at a young age, drawing on her deep knowledge of the Bible and classical literature. Her collection, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was published in London in 1773, bringing her international recognition. Her poetry often uses neoclassical forms to address themes of Christian piety, morality, and the African American experience. Many of her elegies and occasional poems reflect on death, salvation, and the hope of spiritual freedom. She corresponded with prominent figures of the period, including George Washington. Her work challenged prevailing views on race and intellect, becoming a foundational text in African American literature. After being emancipated, she continued to write but faced financial hardship and died at a young age. Phillis Wheatley is remembered as a pioneering figure whose poetry combined literary artistry with a subtle critique of enslavement.

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