Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

By: Phillis Wheatley

Narrated by: Simone Gayuma

Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral was the first published book of poetry by an African-American woman. Phillis Wheatley was a servant to a family in Massachusetts, and initially promoted her poetry in Boston newspapers to find a publisher. When she was initially unable to find a publisher in America, she sent her poetry overseas to England, hoping to eventually find someone who would both believe in the authenticity of her words and allow them to be widely printed.

The significance of this collection is not in its contents alone, but in the fact that it was published and the work that went into it. To publish the collection, Phillis was required to attest before 18 Bostonian men (including John Hancock) to ensure that she had written the poems herself, and explain how she was able to learn reading and writing as a servant. Such extreme verification was required of Black writers for many generations, and is an example of the hardships that Black people faced in progressing in a society based on white “racial superiority”.

Public Domain (P)2021 Spotify Audiobooks

Wonderful Collection

I loved this first collection of poetry by an African American woman. While some of the style and themes may sound odd to present ears, I found these poems invigorated me by offering a glimpse into the mindset of 18th century, pre-Revolution America. One poem I found to be hilarious because the poet prays that King George III does not go mad. That poem was worth the price of admission. Her work also made me think of the COVID pandemic, because she wrote elegies at a time when death was prevalent. Finally, I thrilled to see how this nature began poetry and marvel at how far we have come.