An Hymn to Humanity

Phillis Wheatley 1753 (West Africa) – 1784 (Boston)



I.

Lo! for this dark terrestrial ball
Forsakes his azure-paved hall
   A prince of heav'nly birth!
Divine Humanity behold,
What wonders rise, what charms unfold
   At his descent to earth!

II.

The bosoms of the great and good
With wonder and delight he view'd,
   And fix'd his empire there:
Him, close compressing to his breast,
The sire of gods and men address'd,
   "My son, my heav'nly fair!

III.

"Descend to earth, there place thy throne;
"To succour man's afflicted son
   "Each human heart inspire:
"To act in bounties unconfin'd
"Enlarge the close contracted mind,
   "And fill it with thy fire."

IV.

Quick as the word, with swift career
He wings his course from star to star,
   And leaves the bright abode.
The Virtue did his charms impart;
Their G-----! then thy raptur'd heart
   Perceiv'd the rushing God:

V.

For when thy pitying eye did see
The languid muse in low degree,
   Then, then at thy desire
Descended the celestial nine;
O'er me methought they deign'd to shine,
And deign'd to string my lyre.

VI.

Can Afric's muse forgetful prove?
Or can such friendship fail to move
   A tender human heart?
Immortal Friendship laurel-crown'd
The smiling Graces all surround
   With ev'ry heav'nly Art.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 01, 2023

1:06 min read
449

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABCCB XXDEED XXFGGH XXXIIX JJHKKF LLIMMI
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,179
Words 205
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6

Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley was both the second published African-American poet and first published African-American woman. Born in Senegambia, she was sold into slavery at the age of 7 and transported to North America. She was purchased by the Wheatley family of Boston, who taught her to read and write, and encouraged her poetry when they saw her talent. The publication of her Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral brought her fame both in England and the American colonies; figures such as George Washington praised her work. During Wheatley's visit to England with her master's son, the African-American poet Jupiter Hammon praised her work in his own poem. Wheatley was emancipated after the death of her master John Wheatley. She married soon after. Two of her children died as infants. After her husband was imprisoned for debt in 1784, Wheatley fell into poverty and died of illness, quickly followed by the death of her surviving infant son. more…

All Phillis Wheatley poems | Phillis Wheatley Books

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