puisi inggris - A Young African Painter

To S. M., A Young African Painter, on Seeing His Works

Phillis Wheatley, 1753 - 1784

   To show the lab’ring bosom’s deep intent, 
And thought in living characters to paint, 
When first thy pencil did those beauties give, 
And breathing figures learnt from thee to live, 
How did those prospects give my soul delight, 
A new creation rushing on my sight? 
Still, wond’rous youth! each noble path pursue; 
On deathless glories fix thine ardent view: 
Still may the painter’s and the poet’s fire, 
To aid thy pencil and thy verse conspire! 
And may the charms of each seraphic theme 
Conduct thy footsteps to immortal fame! 
High to the blissful wonders of the skies 
Elate thy soul, and raise thy wishful eyes. 
Thrice happy, when exalted to survey 
That splendid city, crown’d with endless day, 
Whose twice six gates on radiant hinges ring: 
Celestial Salem blooms in endless spring. 
   Calm and serene thy moments glide along, 
And may the muse inspire each future song! 
Still, with the sweets of contemplation bless’d, 
May peace with balmy wings your soul invest! 
But when these shades of time are chas’d away, 
And darkness ends in everlasting day, 
On what seraphic pinions shall we move, 
And view the landscapes in the realms above? 
There shall thy tongue in heav’nly murmurs flow, 
And there my muse with heav’nly transport glow; 
No more to tell of Damon’s tender sighs, 
Or rising radiance of Aurora’s eyes; 
For nobler themes demand a nobler strain, 
And purer language on th’ ethereal plain. 
Cease, gentle Muse! the solemn gloom of night 
Now seals the fair creation from my sight. 

This poem is in the public domain.

puisi inggris - His Excellency General Washington

puisi inggris - His Excellency General Washington

His Excellency General Washington

Phillis Wheatley, 1753 - 1784

   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 the veil of night!

   The Goddess comes, she moves divinely fair,
Olive and laurel binds 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 think 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 know’st them in the fields of fight.
Thee, first in peace and honors—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.

This poem is in the public domain.