On Virtue Poem by Phillis Wheatley

On Virtue

Rating: 3.2


O Thou bright jewel in my aim I strive
To comprehend thee. Thine own words declare
Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach.
I cease to wonder, and no more attempt
Thine height t' explore, or fathom thy profound.
But, O my soul, sink not into despair,
Virtue is near thee, and with gentle hand
Would now embrace thee, hovers o'er thine head.
Fain would the heav'n-born soul with her converse,
Then seek, then court her for her promis'd bliss.
Auspicious queen, thine heav'nly pinions spread,
And lead celestial Chastity along;
Lo! now her sacred retinue descends,
Array'd in glory from the orbs above.
Attend me, Virtue, thro' my youthful years!
O leave me not to the false joys of time!
But guide my steps to endless life and bliss.
Greatness, or Goodness, say what I shall call thee,
To give me an higher appellation still,
Teach me a better strain, a nobler lay,
O thou, enthron'd with Cherubs in the realms of day.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
M Asim Nehal 02 November 2016

A wonderful poem, A prayer in poetic form...

4 0 Reply
Edward Kofi Louis 02 November 2016

Sink not into despair! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

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Indira Renganathan 02 November 2016

poem on the importance of virtue with choicest words.....descriptive work too-10

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Ratnakar Mandlik 02 November 2016

Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach. A proven fact. Thanks for sharing it here.

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Clarence Prince 02 November 2016

Her very words revealed that she was living with faith, and a hope in God!

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Sylvia Frances Chan 26 February 2023

She is the first African poetess in North America who could write on this level. Black or white, brains you must possess! If you have read many poems from her hand, you must conclude: she is brilliant!

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Sylvia Frances Chan 26 February 2023

She wrote a letter to George Washington, till today that letter is still in his office TOP Marks!

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Sylvia Frances Chan 26 February 2023

In her time, no white american poets believed her ability to WRITE poems.She must travel to England with her master's son to have her poems verificated

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Sylvia Frances Chan 26 February 2023

made a slave and later was purchased by the Wheatley family of Boston. The family were the first ones to encourage Phillis' writing and to teach her how to write and read.

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Sylvia Frances Chan 26 February 2023

Although the date and place of her birth are not documented, scholars believe that Phillis Wheatley was born in 1753 likely in present-day Gambia. At age seven she was

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