Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral | Phillis Wheatley

The late 1700‘s are not my fav era for poetry. Because, why say “dawn” when you can say “Aurora”? But this is one of the better examples from this volume. #dawn #poetrymatters @TheSpineView

TheSpineView I like it. Good choice! 🤩 5y

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Lcsmcat

Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral | Phillis Wheatley

so-so

This is very hard to rate. I‘m glad that this book exists. It‘s important as the first published poetry by an African-American. That said, if I came upon these poems knowing nothing about the author I wouldn‘t have finished the book. The subjects (mostly “on the death of” someone) are conventional for the period, full of hackneyed references to mythology and admonitions not to mourn delivered to spouses and parents. Her first book, this was 👇🏻

Lcsmcat 👆🏻with the support of her “master” who then freed her. It almost seems like he used her as a greeting card supplier. But I don‘t know that. She may have known all these mourners she wrote to. I just couldn‘t decide whether the poetry was freeing or one more exploitation, if that makes sense. #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks 5y

violettemeier I pray that most of her poems are written sarcastically. I refuse to believe that she was grateful for her enslavement and meant half of the foolery she wrote. 5y

Lcsmcat @violettemeier None of these poems have that in them. They really read like 18th century sympathy cards. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5y

TheAromaofBooks Intriguing. Your thoughts made me look up a few of her poems on public domain, and they really do have a greeting-card feel to them! I struggle with poetry on the best of days, though. Still sounds like an interesting, if not life-changing, read. 5y

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Lcsmcat

Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral | Phillis Wheatley

My #bookspin is a book of poetry by the first African-American woman to publish a book of poetry. She was born in West Africa and sold into slavery as a young child (c. 1753 - 1784 are her dates.) and the family who bought her taught her to read and encouraged her poetry. I‘m going into this blind but hoping for some poems I can use for #poetrymatters. @TheAromaofBooks @TheSpineView

Soubhiville That sounds interesting, I‘ll watch for your review. 5y

TheAromaofBooks That sounds really cool. While reading book *about* history can be useful for a somewhat more objective perspective, I really love reading books *written* during the time that I'm studying, and this one sounds especially interesting! 5y

HannaPolkadots Have you read Hang a Thousand Trees with ribbons? It was good, I thought, and my first introduction to Wheatley 5y

Lcsmcat @HannaPolkadots I haven‘t. This is my first taste of her work. 5y

TheSpineView I have not read this one. So I am excited to see your posts. Stacked!😊 5y

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