Ode to Neptune by Phillis Wheatley
The poem is a tribute to the planet Neptune, written in the style of classical Greek and Roman poetry. It describes Neptune's power and majesty, comparing him to a king who rules over the sea. The speaker praises Neptune's beauty and strength, noting his ability to calm the waves and bring fertility to the land.
By Phillis Wheatley · First published 1773 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Ode · 193 words
First lines
On Mrs. W -- -- 's Voyage to England
While raging tempests shake the shore, While Aelus' thunders round us roar, And sweep impetuous o'er the plain
Be still, O tyrant of the main; Nor let thy brow contracted frowns betray, While my Susanna skims the wat'ry way.
II
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Ode to Neptune is listed on Textopian as a poem by Phillis Wheatley, dated 1773 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Phillis Wheatley
- Date: 1773 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Elegy, Ode, Romanticism, Historical
- Length: 193 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
- Belshazzar Had A Letter by Emily Dickinson
- Kings In Legends by Ranier Maria Rilke
- The Grave Of Shelley by Oscar Wilde
- Mahomets Song by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Song Of Saul Before His Last Battle by Lord Byron
- Al Primer Poeta De Hungria by Jorge Luis Borges
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, utilizing meter and rhyme, characteristic of poetic forms.
- Elegy — The poem reflects on themes of longing and the emotional weight of separation, typical of elegiac poetry.
- Ode — The title and structure suggest it is an ode, celebrating a subject with elevated language and style.
- Romanticism — The poem expresses deep emotion and a connection to nature, aligning with Romantic themes.
Tags
Poetry · Epic · Neoclassical · American Literature · 18th Century · Feminist · African American · Patriotic · Nautical · Mythological · Ode · Formal
More by Phillis Wheatley
- To Maecenas (1733)
- On Virtue (1773)
- To the University of Cambridge, in New-England (1737)
- To the King's most Excellent Majesty. 1768 (1773)
- On being Brought from Africa to America (1773)
- On the Death of the Rev. Dr. Sewell. 1769 (1773)
- On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 1770 (1770)
- On the Death of a Young Lady of Five Years of Age (1773)
- All works by Phillis Wheatley