A Farewell to America (Poem by Phillis Wheatley)

A Farewell to America.

To Mrs. S. W.

By Phillis Wheatley

(1)

Adieu, New-England’s smiling meads,

    Adieu, the flow’ry plain:

I leave thine op’ning charms, O spring,

    And tempt the roaring main.

(2)

In vain for me the flow’rets rise,

    And boast their gaudy pride,

While here beneath the northern skies

    I mourn for health deny’d.

(3)

Celestial maid of rosy hue,

    O let me feel thy reign!

I languish till thy face I view,

    Thy vanish’d joys regain.

(4)

Susanna mourns, nor can I bear

    To see the crystal show’r,

Or mark the tender falling tear

    At sad departure’s hour;

(5)

Not unregarding can I see

    Her soul with grief opprest:

But let no sighs, no groans for me,

    Steal from her pensive breast.

(6)

In vain the feather’d warblers sing,

    In vain the garden blooms,

And on the bosom of the spring

    Breathes out her sweet perfumes.

(7)

While for Britannia’s distant shore

    We sweep the liquid plain,

And with astonish’d eyes explore

    The wide-extended main.

(8)

Lo! Health appears! celestial dame!

    Complacent and serene,

With Hebe’s mantle o’er her Frame,

    With soul-delighting mein.

(9)

To mark the vale where London lies

    With misty vapours crown’d,

Which cloud Aurora’s thousand dyes,

    And veil her charms around.

(10)

Why, Phoebus, moves thy car so slow?

    So slow thy rising ray?

Give us the famous town to view,

    Thou glorious king of day!

(11)

For thee, Britannia, I resign

    New-England’s smiling fields;

To view again her charms divine,

    What joy the prospect yields!

(12)

But thou!Temptation hence away,

    With all thy fatal train,

Nor once seduce my soul away,

    By thine enchanting strain.

(13)

Thrice happy they, whose heav’nly shield

    Secures their souls from harms,

And fell Temptation on the field

    Of all its pow’r disarms!

Boston, May 7, 1773

Poem Analysis:

Phillis Wheatley, an African-American poet enslaved as a child in colonial America, penned "A Farewell to America" during a pivotal period in American history. Published in 1773, this poignant poem reflects Wheatley's experiences as she prepared to leave the land where she had grown up and attained her freedom. Through the poem's thirteen quatrains, Wheatley skillfully weaves themes of farewell, nostalgia, longing, and resilience.

Stanza 1: Bidding Adieu

In the opening stanza, Wheatley bids adieu to the picturesque landscapes of New England. She personifies the meadows as "smiling" and the plains as "flow'ry," emphasizing their natural beauty. The decision to "tempt the roaring main" signifies her departure, a choice made against the backdrop of New England's burgeoning spring.

Stanzas 2-3: Yearning for Health and Joy

In these stanzas, Wheatley expresses her physical ailment and yearning for the celestial "maid of rosy hue," who represents the personification of spring. Her plea to "feel thy reign" and "regain" the joys of spring highlights her longing for good health and vitality, which she associates with the season's rebirth.

Stanzas 4-5: Compassion for a Friend

Wheatley's compassion shines in these stanzas as she mentions Susanna, who mourns her departure with tears. The poet, despite her own sadness, requests that Susanna not grieve for her. This displays Wheatley's selflessness and her desire for her loved ones to find solace in her absence.

Stanzas 6-7: Nature's Beauty in Vain

Wheatley reflects on the beauty of nature—singing birds, blooming gardens, and spring's perfume—that fails to bring her comfort in her impending departure. These verses emphasize the depth of her homesickness and the insufficiency of the natural world to ease her emotional pain.

Stanzas 8-9: The Anticipation of London

As Wheatley approaches Britain's shores, she personifies "Health" as a "celestial dame" with a serene demeanor. Her yearning to "mark the vale where London lies" highlights her excitement at reaching her new home and experiencing the splendors of the British capital.

Stanzas 10-11: Longing for Sunlight

Wheatley eagerly awaits the appearance of the sun, Phoebus, and its rays illuminating London. The reference to Aurora's "thousand dyes" emphasizes her anticipation of the city's vibrant colors and allure. Her joy at the prospect of seeing London again is palpable.

Stanzas 12-13: Resisting Temptation

In the final stanzas, Wheatley addresses the temptation she may face in London, urging it to stay away with its "fatal train." She values her newfound freedom and is determined not to be swayed from her path. Wheatley underscores the importance of resilience and moral fortitude in the face of temptation.

"A Farewell to America" by Phillis Wheatley is a testament to her resilience, courage, and ability to convey complex emotions through poetry. In this farewell poem, Wheatley navigates the themes of longing, nostalgia, and resilience as she embarks on a new chapter in her life. Her enduring optimism and strength shine through, making this work a powerful reflection of her journey and her place in American literary history.