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The Poems of Phillis Wheatley

"Thou, Lord, whom I behold with glory crown'd
"By what sweet name, and in what tuneful sound
"Wilt thou be prais'd? Seraphic pow'rs are faint,
"Infinite love and majesty to paint.
"To thee let all their graceful voices raise,
"And saints and angels join their songs of praise."
  Perfect in bliss she from her heav'nly home
Looks down, and smiling bekons you to come;
Why then, fond parents, why these fruitless groans?
Restrain your tears, and cease your plaintive moans,
Freed from a world of sin, and snares, and pain,
Why would you wish your daugher back again?
No--bow resign'd. Let hope your grief control,
And check the rising tumult of the soul.
Calm in the prosperous, and adverse day,
Adore the God who gives and takes away;
Eye him in all, His holy name revere,
Upright your actions and your hearts sincere,
Till having sail'd through life's tempestuous sea,
And from its rocks, and boist'rous billows free,
Yourselves, safe landed on the blissful shore,
Shall join your happy babe to part no more.

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The Poems of Phillis Wheatley

On the Death of a Young Gentleman

Who taught thee conflict with the pow'rs of night,
To vanquish Satan in the fields of fight?
Who strung thy feeble arms with might unknown,
How great thy conquest, and how bright thy crown!
War with each princedom, throne and pow'r is o'er,
The scene is ended to return no more.
O, could my muse thy seat on high behold,
How decked with laurel, how enrich'd with gold!
O could she hear what praise thine harp employs,
How sweet thine anthems, how divine thy joys!
What heav'nly grandeur should exalt her strain!
What holy raptures in her numbers reign!
To soothe the troubles of the mind to peace,
To still the tumult of life's tossing seas,
To ease the anguish of the parent heart,
What shall my sympathizing verse impart?
Where is the balm to heal so deep a wound?
Where shall a sovereign remedy be found?
Look, gracious Spirit, from thine heav'nly bow'r,
And thy full joys into their bosoms pour;

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Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-26 15:33:24 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-26 13:26:13