An Hymn to the Morning (Poem by Phillis Wheatley)

An Hymn to the Morning

By Phillis Wheatley

Attend my lays, ye ever honour’d nine,

Assist my labours, and my strains refine;

In smoothest numbers pour the notes along,

For bright Aurora now demands my song.

    Aurora hail, and all the thousand dies,

Which deck thy progress through the vaulted skies:

The morn awakes, and wide extends her rays,

On ev’ry leaf the gentle zephyr plays;

Harmonious lays the feather’d race resume,

Dart the bright eye, and shake the painted plume.

    Ye shady groves, your verdant gloom display

To shield your poet from the burning day:

Calliope awake the sacred lyre,

While thy fair sisters fan the pleasing fire:

The bow’rs, the gales, the variegated skies

In all their pleasures in my bosom rise.

    See in the east th’ illustrious king of day!

His rising radiance drives the shades away —

But Oh! I feel his fervid beams too strong,

And scarce begun, concludes th’ abortive song.

Poem Analysis:

Phillis Wheatley's "An Hymn to the Morning" is a celebration of the dawn and its beauty, invoking the imagery of nature and the divine to express awe and reverence. Through classical allusions and rich language, Wheatley elevates the experience of witnessing the sunrise to a spiritual and poetic event.

Invocation of the Muses: The poem begins with an invocation to the muses, the nine goddesses of inspiration in Greek mythology. By calling upon them, Wheatley seeks their assistance in crafting her ode to the morning. This invocation sets the tone for the poem's elevated and lyrical language.

Praise for Aurora: Wheatley praises Aurora, the goddess of the dawn in Roman mythology, as she heralds the arrival of morning. She describes Aurora's journey through the sky and the array of colors that accompany her. The imagery of the morning light spreading across the sky and awakening nature conveys a sense of wonder and awe.

Celebration of Nature: The poem celebrates the beauty and vitality of nature at daybreak. Wheatley describes the awakening of the natural world—leaves stirring in the gentle breeze, birds singing their harmonious melodies, and the vibrant colors of the sky and foliage. Through these descriptions, Wheatley captures the vibrancy and energy of the morning.

Invocation of the Muses and Calliope: Wheatley invokes Calliope, the muse of epic poetry, to awaken the sacred lyre and inspire her poetic composition. She envisions her surroundings—the shady groves, the gentle breezes, and the variegated skies—as sources of inspiration that ignite her creativity and elevate her poetic expression.

Encounter with the Sun: As the sun rises in the east, Wheatley acknowledges its brilliance and power. However, she also feels overwhelmed by its intensity, symbolizing the fleeting nature of inspiration and the limitations of human expression. Despite her initial enthusiasm, Wheatley recognizes the challenge of capturing the full essence of the morning in her poetry.

In conclusion, "An Hymn to the Morning" by Phillis Wheatley is a lyrical and evocative ode to the dawn. Through rich imagery, classical allusions, and spiritual reverence, Wheatley celebrates the beauty of nature and the transformative power of the morning light. The poem reflects Wheatley's mastery of poetic language and her ability to infuse her work with depth and emotion.