Phillis+Wheatley

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By: Bria, Lauren,  Daya, Gavin



A portrait of Phillis Wheatley

She was born in 1753 -5 in Gambia. Phillis Wheatley was a slave child of seven.

 The slave ship she was brought on was called //The Phillis.// She was sold to John and Susanna Wheatley in Boston on July 11, 1761.  Susanna Wheatley named her Phillis after the ship she was brought on. Mr. and Mrs. Wheatley taught Phillis to read and write.  Ms. Mary Wheatley, the owner's daughter, and Selina Hastings encouraged her to write poetry. Obour Tanner, a former slave who made the journey through the middle passage (stage of the triangular trade in which millions of people from Africa were shipped to the New World) with Phillis was also one of the chief influences and supporters of Phillis' writing Her first poem was published at the age of twelve and it was called, "//On Messrs. Hussey and Coffin."// In 1773 she was freed as a result of her popularity as a poet in the United States and England. She was a strong supporter of independence during the Revolutionary War. She appeared before General George Washington on March, 1776 for her poetry.

She got married in 1778. Her last known poem was written for George Washington. Died- December 5, 1784 in Massachusetts as a result of childbirth.



P hillis writing her poetry.

Phillis is remembered for many first time accomplishments from a woman of her day:

First African American to publish a book,

An accomplished African American woman of letters,

First African American woman to earn a living from her writing,

First woman writer encouraged and financed by a group of women (Mrs. Wheatley, Mary Wheatley, and Selina Hastings.)

Phillis Wheatley in a lot of ways was a milestone in American history. She went from a slave/servant to a professional, well known American poet. She proved that anybody can come from their hopeless origins and do what they want and love. She became the first ever African-American poet. She helpedm break down the barrier between whites and blacks. She put other people's prejudice aside and made poems that other people enjoyed.

Poems By Phillis:

This Poem Was Written To S. M, a Young African Painter, On Seeing His Work.

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 figures learn from thee to live, How did those prospects give my soul delight, A new creation rushing on my sight? Still, wond'rous youth! each noble path pursue, On deathless glories fix thine ardent view: Still may the paint's and the poet's fire To aid thy pencil, and thy verse conspire! And may the charms of each seraphic theme Conduct thy footsteps to immortal fame! High to the blissful wonders of the skies Elate thy soul, and raise thy wishful eyes. Thrice happy, when exalted to survey That splendid city, crown'd with endless day, Whose twice six gates on radiant hinges ring: Celestial Salem blooms in endless spring.

Calm and serene thy moments glide along And may the muse inspire each future song! Still, with the sweets of contemplation bless'd May peace with balmy winds your soul invest! But when these shades of time are chas'd away, And darkness ends in everlasting day, On what seraphic pinions shall we move, And view the landscapes in the realms above? There shall thy tongue in heav'nly murmurs flows, And there my muse with heav'nly transport glow: No more to tell of Damon's tender sighs, Or rising radiance of Aurora's eyes, For nobler themes demand a nobler strain, And purer language on th' ethereal plain. Cease, gentle muse! the solemn gloom of night Now seals the fair creation from my sight This is the cover of Phillis's poetry book.

This Poem Was Written On Imagination.

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 Helicon's refulgent heights attend, Ye sacred choir, and my attempts befriend: To tell her glories with a faithful tongue, Ye blooming graces, triumph in my song. Now here, now there, the roving Fancy flies, Till some lov'd objects strikes her wand'ring eyes, Whose silken fetters all the senses bind, And soft captivity involves the mind.

Imagination! who can sing thy force Or who describe the swiftness of thy course? Soaring though air to find the bright abode, Th' empyreal palace of the thund'ring God, We on thy pinions can surpass the wind, And leave the rolling universe behind; 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.

Winter frowns to Fancy's raptur'd eye 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. Fair Flora may resume her fragrant reign, And with her flow'ry riches deck the plain; Sylvanus may diffuse his honours round, And all the forest may with leaves be crown'd; Show'rs may descend, and dews their gems disclose, And nectar sparkle on the blooming rose.

Such is thy pow'r, nor are thine orders vain O thou the leader of the mental train: In full perfection all thy works are wrought, And thine the sceptre o'er the realms of thought. 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.

Fancy might now her silken pinions try To rise from earth, and sweep th' expanse on high; From Tithon's bed now might Aurora rise, Her cheeks all glowing with celestial dies, While a pure stream of light o'erflows the skies. The monarch of the day I might behold, And all the mountains tipt with radiant gold, But I reluctant leave the pleasing views, Which Fancy dresses to delight the Muse; Winter austere forbids me to aspire, And northern tempests damp the rising fire; They chill the tides of Fancy's flowing sea, Cease then, my song, cease the unequal lay.

Phillis as a free woman.

Bibliography "Exploring the Population Dynamics of Wintering Bald Eagles through Long-term Data (Abstract) | TIEE." //The Ecological Society of America {ESA}//. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. [].

"Gallery." //Mary Collopy Fine Art//. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. []. Morning Dew, Charlotte, North Carolina. Personal photograph by author. 2008 Mountains With Clouds, Germany. Personal photograph by author. 2009 Northern Lights, Greenland. Personal photograph by author. 2005

"Phillis Wheatley." //AALBC.com The #1 Site for African American Literature - Author Profiles, Book & Film Reviews, Interviews and More//. Web. 15 Dec. 2011. []. Pikes Peak, Colorado. Personal photograph by author. 2009. Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 2: Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)." //PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide //. WWW URL: [] "Rushing Stream In Forest." //John Harvey Photo//. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. []. "Study About Clouds' Effect on Global Warming Debunked | Center for Media and Democracy." //Center for Media and Democracy | Publishers of PR Watch//. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. []. "Sunset." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. []. "Winter." //The Galleries//. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. []. Women in History. Phillis Wheatley biography. Last Updated: 12/7/2011. Lakewood Public Library. Date accessed 12/6/2011. [] Woodlief, Ann. "On Phillis Wheatley." . N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec 2011. []. Woodlief, Ann. "Poems By Phillis Wheatley." . N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec 2011. []. Zhu, Helena. //Lack of Morning Light//. Photograph. //Epoch Times//. Web. [].

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