Enlightenment+Poetry

Color key Imagery Personification Alliteration Emjambment

"An Hymn to the Evening" Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC Tone: exuberant Mood: empowered

Soon as the sun forsook the eastern main , The pealing thunder shook the heav'nly plain: Majestic grandeur! From the zephyr's wing Exhales the incense of the blooming spring. Soft purl the streams; the birds renew their notes , And through the air their mingled music floats.

Through all the heav'ns what beauteous dies are spread ! But the west glories in the deepest red : So may our breasts with ev'ry virtue glow, The living temples of our God below.

Fill'd with the praise of him who gives the light And draws the sable curtains of the night , Let placid slumbers sooth each weary mind At morn to wake more heav'nly, more refin'd; So shall the labours of the day begin More pure, more guarded from the snares of sin.

Night's leaden scepter seals my drowsy eyes; Then cease, my song, till fair Aurora rise.

"To His Excellency, George Washington" by Phillis Wheatley Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCAADDEE Tone: dignified Mood: perplexed

Celestial choir ! enthron'd in realms of light, Columbia's scenes of glorious toils I write. While freedom's cause her anxious breast alarms, She flashes dreadful in refulgent arms. See mother earth her offspring's fate bemoan, And nations gaze at scenes before unknown ! See the bright beams of heaven's revolving light Involved in sorrows and veil of night! The goddess comes, she moves divinely fair, Olive and laurel bind her golden hair: Wherever shines this native of the skies, Unnumber'd charms and recent graces rise.

Muse! bow propitious while my pen relates How pour her armies through a thousand gates, As when Eolus heaven's fair face deforms , Enwrapp'd in tempest and a night of storms; Astonish'd ocean feels the wild uproar , The refluent surges beat the sounding shore ; Or thick as leaves in Autumn's golden reign, Such, and so many, moves the warrior's train. In bright array they seek the work of war, Where high unfurl'd the ensign waves in air. Shall I to Washington their praise recite? Enough thou knw'st them in the fields of fight. Thee, first in peace and honours,-we demand The grace and glory of thy martial band. Fam'd for thy valour, for thy virtues more, Hear every tongue thy guardian aid implore!

One century scarce perform'd its destined round, When Gallic powers Columbia's fury found ; And so may you, whoever dares disgrace The land of freedom's heaven-defended race! Fix'd are the eyes of nations on the scales, For in their hopes Columbia's arm prevails. Anon Britannia droops the pensive head, While round increase the rising hills of dead. Ah! cruel blindness to Columbia's state! Lament thy thirst of boundless power too late.

Proceed, great chief, with virtue on thy side, Thy ev'ry action let the goddess guide. A crown, a mansion, and a throne that shine, With gold unfading, WASHINGTON! be thine.