'To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His Daughter' by Phillis Wheatly
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WHILE deep you mourn beneath the cypress-shade
The hand of Death, and your dear daughter
laid
In dust, whose absence gives your tears to flow,
And racks your bosom with incessant woe,
Let Recollection take a tender part,
Assuage the raging tortures of your heart,
Still the wild tempest of tumultuous grief,
And pour the heav'nly nectar of relief:
Suspend the sigh, dear Sir, and check the groan,
Divinely bright your daughter's Virtues shone:
How free from scornful pride her gentle mind,
Which ne'er its aid to indigence declin'd!
Expanding free, it sought the means to prove
Unfailing charity, unbounded love!
She unreluctant flies to see no more
Her dear-lov'd parents on earth's dusky shore:
Impatient heav'n's resplendent goal to gain,
She with swift progress cuts the azure plain,
Where grief subsides, where changes are no more,
And life's tumultuous billows cease to roar;
She leaves her earthly mansion for the skies,
Where new creations feast her wond'ring eyes.
To heav'n's high mandate cheerfully resign'd
She mounts, and leaves the rolling globe behind;
She, who late wish'd that Leonard might return,
Has ceas'd to languish, and forgot to mourn;
To the same high empyreal mansions come,
She joins her spouse, and smiles upon the tomb:
And thus I hear her from the realms above:
"Lo! this the kingdom of celestial love!
"Could ye, fond parents, see our present bliss,
"How soon would you each sigh, each fear dismiss?
"Amidst unutter'd pleasures whilst I play
"In the fair sunshine of celestial day,
"As far as grief affects an happy soul
"So far doth grief my better mind controul,
"To see on earth my aged parents mourn,
"And secret wish for T-----! to return:
"Let brighter scenes your ev'ning-hours employ:
"Converse with heav'n, and taste the promis'd joy"
Editor 1 Interpretation
To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His Daughter by Phillis Wheatly
Wow! Just wow! That's the first thought that comes to my mind when I read Phillis Wheatly's poem, 'To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His Daughter.' This classic piece of poetry is a powerful and emotional tribute to a father who lost his daughter.
Background Information
Phillis Wheatly was an African-American poet who was born in Senegal and sold into slavery at a young age. Despite her humble beginnings, Wheatly went on to become a celebrated poet and author. Her work was unique because it showcased the struggles of African-Americans during the colonial period. Her poetry reflected her own experiences and those of her fellow slaves.
'To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His Daughter' was written in 1779, during the early years of the American Revolution. It was addressed to Thomas Hinde, a plantation owner who had lost his daughter. The poem was written in Wheatly's signature style, which was characterized by the use of classical forms and themes.
Literary Analysis
The poem is a powerful and moving tribute to a father who has lost his daughter. Wheatly uses a variety of literary devices to convey the emotions of the poem. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the father's grief.
The first part of the poem is a lamentation for the loss of the daughter. Wheatly uses imagery and metaphor to convey the father's sense of loss. The opening lines of the poem are particularly powerful:
"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."
These lines establish the tone of the poem and set the stage for what is to come. Wheatly's use of the word "Queen" to describe God is significant because it establishes the idea that the daughter was a gift from God.
The second part of the poem is a meditation on the nature of grief. Wheatly uses a series of rhetorical questions to explore the father's sense of loss. She asks, "Is there no kind, no lenient art, / To heal the anguish of a breaking heart?" This question is particularly poignant because it acknowledges the fact that grief is a natural part of the human experience.
The third part of the poem is a call to action. Wheatly encourages the father to turn to God for comfort and reassurance. She writes, "But cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, / And let me languish into life." This line is significant because it acknowledges the fact that grief is a natural part of the human experience.
Throughout the poem, Wheatly uses a variety of literary devices to convey the emotions of the poem. She uses metaphor, imagery, and rhetorical questions to explore the father's sense of loss. The poem is a powerful and emotional tribute to a father who has lost his daughter.
Interpretation
'To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His Daughter' is a poem that explores the nature of grief and loss. It is a powerful and emotional tribute to a father who has lost his daughter.
The poem is significant because it reflects the experiences of African-Americans during the colonial period. Wheatly was a slave herself, and her poetry reflected the struggles of her fellow slaves. The poem can be seen as a commentary on the nature of slavery and the loss of loved ones.
The poem is also significant because it reflects Wheatly's own experiences. Wheatly lost several children, and her poetry often explored the themes of loss and grief. The poem can be seen as a reflection of Wheatly's own experiences and a tribute to her own children who passed away.
In conclusion, 'To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His Daughter' is a powerful and emotional tribute to a father who has lost his daughter. The poem explores the nature of grief and loss and reflects Wheatly's experiences as a slave and a mother. It is a testament to Wheatly's talent as a poet and her ability to capture the emotions of her time.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His Daughter: A Masterpiece of Grief and Hope
Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American woman to publish a book of poetry, wrote Poetry To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His Daughter in 1778. The poem is a tribute to the daughter of Thomas Hutchinson, the last royal governor of Massachusetts, who died in childbirth. The poem is a masterpiece of grief and hope, as Wheatley uses her poetic skills to console the grieving father and to express her own sorrow at the loss of a young life.
The poem is written in heroic couplets, a form of poetry that was popular in the 18th century. Heroic couplets consist of two rhyming lines of iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables, with the stress falling on every other syllable. This form of poetry was often used for epic poems, but Wheatley uses it to convey the depth of her emotions and to pay tribute to the young woman who has passed away.
The poem begins with a description of the grief that Thomas Hutchinson must be feeling at the loss of his daughter. Wheatley writes, "Mourn, hapless Caledonia, mourn thy dead! / Thy dear departed shade, forever fled!" (lines 1-2). The use of the word "hapless" emphasizes the tragedy of the situation, and the reference to "Caledonia" (a poetic name for Scotland) adds a sense of universality to the poem. Wheatley is not just mourning the loss of one young woman, but the loss of all young lives that are cut short.
Wheatley then turns her attention to the daughter herself, describing her as "fair, gentle, and benign" (line 5). She goes on to say that the daughter was "the pride of all her kindred, and her age" (line 6). This description emphasizes the young woman's beauty and her importance to her family and community. Wheatley is not just mourning the loss of a life, but the loss of a bright future and all the potential that was contained within it.
The poem then shifts to a more hopeful tone, as Wheatley reminds Thomas Hutchinson that his daughter is now in a better place. She writes, "But why lament the fate of lovely maid? / Why should we mourn, that she to rest is laid?" (lines 9-10). This shift in tone is important, as it shows that Wheatley is not just mourning the loss of a life, but celebrating the fact that the young woman is now at peace. This is a common theme in 18th-century poetry, as many poets believed that death was not the end, but a transition to a better life.
Wheatley then goes on to describe the young woman's journey to heaven. She writes, "She, from the storms of life, has passed to rest, / And in the bosom of her God is blest" (lines 11-12). This description is both comforting and uplifting, as it suggests that the young woman has found peace and happiness in the afterlife. It also emphasizes the idea that death is not the end, but a new beginning.
The poem ends with a message of hope and comfort for Thomas Hutchinson. Wheatley writes, "Cease then, fond nature! cease thy strife, and leave / To heaven the rest, for thou hast lost the theme" (lines 17-18). This message is both comforting and empowering, as it suggests that Thomas Hutchinson should not dwell on his grief, but should instead look to the future with hope and optimism. It also emphasizes the idea that death is not the end, but a new beginning.
In conclusion, Poetry To The Honourable T. H. Esq; On the Death Of His Daughter is a masterpiece of grief and hope. Phillis Wheatley uses her poetic skills to console the grieving father and to express her own sorrow at the loss of a young life. The poem is written in heroic couplets, a form of poetry that was popular in the 18th century, and it is filled with powerful imagery and emotional depth. The poem is a tribute to the young woman who has passed away, and it is a reminder that death is not the end, but a new beginning.
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