Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral by Phillis Wheatley (the lemonade war series .TXT) π
Description
Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral was the first book of poetry ever published by an African-American author. Phillis Wheatleyβs deep familiarity with Latin literature and Christianity, combined with her African ancestry, provided her with a unique and inimitable view of poetry.
She was kidnapped and brought over to America on a ship called The Phillis after which she was named. Her interest in poetry and literature was recognized by the Wheatley family who, though keeping her enslaved, provided her with classic works of literature by authors such as Virgil, Homer, Terence, and Pope, all of whom had a significant influence on her work.
She received praise from many of her contemporaries including George Washington, John Hancock, and Voltaire. Shortly after publishing her collection of poetry she was emancipated by the Wheatley family. Even so, her life ended in poverty and obscurity.
Though her influence on poetry and African-American literature is indisputable, more modern critics of her work point to the lack of censure of slavery and the absence of discussion about the lives of black people in the United States as an example of the Uncle Tom syndrome.
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- Author: Phillis Wheatley
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By Phillis Wheatley.
Table of Contents Titlepage Imprint Dedication Preface Letter to the Publisher Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral To Maecenas On Virtue To the University of Cambridge, in New-England To the Kingβs Most Excellent Majesty. 1768 On Being Brought from Africa to America On the Death of the Rev. Dr. Sewell. 1769 On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 1770 On the Death of a Young Lady of Five Years of Age On the Death of a Young Gentleman To a Lady on the Death of Her Husband Goliath of Gath Thoughts on the Works of Providence To a Lady on the Death of Three Relations To a Clergyman on the Death of His Lady An Hymn to the Morning An Hymn to the Evening Isaiah 63:1β8 On Recollection On Imagination A Funeral Poem on the Death of C. E. An Infant of Twelve Months To Captain HβΈΊd, of the 65th Regiment To the Right Honourable William, Earl of Dartmouth, His Majestyβs Principal Secretary of State for North-America, etc. Ode to Neptune I II III To a Lady on Her Coming to North-America with Her Son, for the Recovery of Her Health To a Lady on Her Remarkable Preservation in an Hurricane in North-Carolina To a Lady and Her Children, on the Death of Her Son and Their Brother To a Gentleman and Lady on the Death of the Ladyβs Brother and Sister, and a Child of the Name of Avis, Aged One Year On the Death of Dr. Samuel Marshall. 1771 To a Gentleman on His Voyage to Great-Britain for the Recovery of His Health To the Rev. Dr. Thomas Amory, on Reading His Sermons on Daily Devotion, in Which That Duty Is Recommended and Assisted On the Death of J. C. An Infant An Hymn to Humanity I II III IV V VI To the Honourable T. H. Esq.; On the Death of His Daughter Niobe in Distress for Her Children Slain by Apollo, from Ovidβs Metamorphoses, Book VI and from a View of the Painting of Mr. Richard Wilson To S. M. A Young African Painter, on Seeing His Works To His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, on the Death of His Lady. March 24, 1773 A Farewel to America. To Mrs. S. W. I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII A Rebus, by I. B. I II III An Answer to the Rebus, by the Author of These Poems Endnotes Colophon Uncopyright ImprintThis ebook is the product of many hours of hard work by volunteers for Standard Ebooks, and builds on the hard work of other literature lovers made possible by the public domain.
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To the Right Honourable the
Countess of Huntingdon,
The following
Poems
Are most respectfully
Inscribed,
By her much obliged,
Very humble,
And devoted Servant,
Phillis Wheatley.
Boston, June 12, 1771.
PrefaceThe following poems were written originally for the amusement of the author, as they were the products of her leisure moments. She had no intention ever to have published them; nor would they now have made their appearance, but at the importunity of many of her best, and most generous friends; to whom she considers herself, as under the greatest obligations.
As her attempts in poetry are now sent into the world, it is hoped the critic will not severely censure their defects; and we presume they have too much merit to be cast aside with contempt, as worthless and trifling effusions.
As to the disadvantages she has laboured under, with regard to learning, nothing needs to be offered, as her masterβs letter in the following page will sufficiently show the difficulties in this respect she had to encounter.
With all their imperfections, the poems are now humbly submitted to the perusal of the public.
Letter to the PublisherThe following is a copy of a letter sent by the authorβs master to the publisher.
Phillis was brought from Africa to America, in the year 1761, between seven and eight years of age. Without any assistance from school education, and by only what she was taught in the family, she, in sixteen months time from her arrival, attained the English language, to which she was an utter stranger before, to such a degree, as to read any, the most difficult parts of the Sacred Writings, to the great astonishment of all who heard her.
As to her writing, her own curiosity led her to it; and this she learnt in so short a time, that in the year 1765, she wrote a letter to the Rev. Mr. Occom, the Indian Minister, while in England.
She has a great inclination to learn the Latin tongue, and has made some progress in it. This relation is given by her master who bought her, and with whom she now lives.
John Wheatley.
Boston, Nov. 14, 1772.
Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral To MaecenasMaecenas, you, beneath the myrtle shade,
Read oβer what poets sung,
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