Featured Poet
Phillis Wheatley was a negro servant to John
Wheatley of Boston.
Phillis was brought from Africa to America, in the
year 1761, between seven and eight years of age.
Without any assistance from school education, and
by only what she was taught in the family, she, in
sixteen months time from her arrival, attained the
english language, to which she was an utter stranger
before, to such a degree, as to read any, the most
difficult parts of the Sacred Writings, to the great
astonishment of all who heard her.
John Wheatley
Boston, November 14, 1772
Isaiah 63:1-8
Say, heav'nly muse, what king or mighty God,
That moves sublime from Idumea's road?
In Bosrah's dies, with martial glories join'd,
His purple vesture waves upon the wind.
Why thus enrob'd delights he to appear
In the dread image of the Pow'r of war?
Compres'd in wrath the swelling wine-press groan'd,
It bled, and pour'd the gushing purple round.
"Mine was the act," th' Almighty Saviour said,
And shook the dazzling glories of his head,
"When all forsook I trod the press alone,
"And conquer'd by omnipotence my own;
"For man's release sustain'd the pond'rous load,
"For man the wrath of an immortal God:
"To execute th' Eternal's dread command
"My soul I sacrific'd with willing hand;
"Sinless I stood before the avenging frown,
"Atoning thus for vices not my own."
His eye the ample field of battle round
Survey'd, but no created succours found;
His own omnipotence sustain'd the right,
His vengeance sunk the haughty foes in night;
Beneath his feet the prostrate troops were spread,
And round him lay the dying, and the dead.
Great God, what light'ning flashes from thine eyes?
What pow'r withstands if thou indignant rise?
Against thy Zion though her foes may rage,
And all their cunning, all their strength engage,
Yet she serenely on thy bosom lies,
Smiles at their arts, and all their force defies.
Phillis Wheatley
http://www.idisciple.net
This poem may be copied and used as is on your site if the idisciple link is included.
|
