To A Gentleman On His Voyage To Great-Britain For The Recovery Of His Health Poem by Phillis Wheatley

To A Gentleman On His Voyage To Great-Britain For The Recovery Of His Health

Rating: 3.1


WHILE others chant of gay Elysian scenes,
Of balmy zephyrs, and of flow'ry plains,
My song more happy speaks a greater name,
Feels higher motives and a nobler flame.
For thee, O R-----, the muse attunes her strings,
And mounts sublime above inferior things.
I sing not now of green embow'ring woods,
I sing not now the daughters of the floods,
I sing not of the storms o'er ocean driv'n,
And how they howl'd along the waste of heav'n.
But I to R----- would paint the British shore,
And vast Atlantic, not untry'd before:
Thy life impair'd commands thee to arise,
Leave these bleak regions and inclement skies,
Where chilling winds return the winter past,
And nature shudders at the furious blast.
O thou stupendous, earth-enclosing main
Exert thy wonders to the world again!
If ere thy pow'r prolong'd the fleeting breath,
Turn'd back the shafts, and mock'd the gates of death,
If ere thine air dispens'd an healing pow'r,
Or snatch'd the victim from the fatal hour,
This equal case demands thine equal care,
And equal wonders may this patient share.
But unavailing, frantic is the dream
To hope thine aid without the aid of him
Who gave thee birth and taught thee where to flow,
And in thy waves his various blessings show.
May R----- return to view his native shore
Replete with vigour not his own before,
Then shall we see with pleasure and surprise,
And own thy work, great Ruler of the skies!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Bernard F. Asuncion 16 April 2019

One of the best poems by Phillis Wheatley......

5 0 Reply
Kumarmani Mahakul 16 April 2019

. It is justified to have this poem on poem of the day. Beautifully crafted.

0 5 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 16 April 2019

the muse attunes her strings, And mounts sublime above inferior things. I sing not now of green embow'ring woods, I sing not now the daughters of the floods, very fine poem. tony

5 0 Reply
Edward Kofi Louis 16 April 2019

With pleasure and surprise! ! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

5 0 Reply
Ramesh T A 16 April 2020

The soothing and encouraging words of the Poet is similar to the effect of Zephyr wind indeed depicted in this beautiful poem sure!

0 4 Reply
Shaun Cronick 16 April 2020

Excellent as always this woman always enchanting and inspiring. A true poetry tour de force and thank god for that.

2 0 Reply
Harindhar Reddy 16 April 2020

May R return to view native shore what majestic poem is this as it has depth of ocean and breath of the sky...

4 0 Reply

O thou stupendous, earth-enclosing main Exert thy wonders to the world again! If ere thy pow'r prolong'd the fleeting breath, Turn'd back the shafts, and mock'd the gates of death, If ere thineair dispens'd an healing pow'r, Or 'd the victim from the fatal hour,

3 1 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 16 April 2020

Replete with vigour not his own before, Then shall we see with pleasure and surprise, And own thy work, great Ruler of the skies! . a great poem. tony

4 0 Reply
Kumarmani Mahakul 16 April 2020

The inspiration made by Phillis Wheatley is so enchanting and touching.

0 4 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Close
Error Success