Contemplating early African American poets of the Revolutionary Age this Fourth of July
Phillis Wheatley's "On Imagination" (1767~73) Excerpts - Full Text Here
"Thy various works, imperial queen, we see,
How bright their forms! how deck'd with pomp by thee!
Thy wond'rous acts in beauteous order stand,
And all attest how potent is thine hand.
From star to star the mental optics rove,
Measure the skies, and range the realms above.
There in one view we grasp the mighty whole,
Or with new worlds amaze th' unbounded soul.
Though Winter frowns to Fancy's raptur'd eyes
The fields may flourish, and gay scenes arise;
The frozen deeps may break their iron bands,
And bid their waters murmur o'er the sands.
Before thy throne the subject-passions bow,
Of subject-passions sov'reign ruler Thou,
At thy command joy rushes on the heart,
And through the glowing veins the spirits dart."
Jupiter Hammon's "An Address to Ms. Phillis Wheatley" (1778)
Excerpts - Full Text Here
"O, come you pious youth: adore
The wisdom of thy God.In bringing thee from distant shore,
To learn His holy word.
While thousands tossed by the sea,
And others settled down,
God's tender mercy set thee free,
From dangers still unknown.
Come you, Phillis, now aspire,
And seek the living God,
So step by step thou mayst go higher,
Till perfect in the word.
The humble soul shall fly to God,
And leave the things of time,
Start forth as 'twere at the first word,
To taste things more divine."
Journey of a Slave 1863 - Library of Congress
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