To a Lady on the Death of her Husband

Name: To a Lady on the Death of her Husband
Author: Phillis Wheatley

The poem is a lamentation of the speaker's loss and grief over her husband's death. It expresses her sorrow and longing for him, while also acknowledging his virtues and the impact he had on their life together. The speaker reflects on their relationship, highlighting their love and companionship, as well as the challenges they faced. She expresses her hope that she will be reunited with him in the afterlife.

By Phillis Wheatley · First published 1773 · Genre: Elegy, Lyric Poetry, Religious Poetry · 384 words

First lines

Grim monarch! see, depriv'd of vital breath, A young physician in the dust of death: Dost thou go on incessant to destroy, Our griefs to double, and lay waste our joy?

Enough thou never yet wast known to say, Though millions die, the vassals of thy sway: Nor youth, nor science, not the ties of love, Nor ought on earth thy flinty heart can move.

What this Textopian page supports

To a Lady on the Death of her Husband is listed on Textopian as a poem by Phillis Wheatley, dated 1773 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Phillis Wheatley
Date: 1773 CE
Language: English
Genres: Elegy, Lyric Poetry, Religious Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Didactic Poetry
Length: 384 words
Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Elegy — The work mourns the death of a loved one, expressing grief and loss, which are central themes of elegiac poetry.
Lyric Poetry — The poem conveys personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry, focusing on the speaker's feelings of sorrow and consolation.
Religious Poetry — The text includes themes of the afterlife and spiritual transcendence, reflecting a religious perspective on death and mourning.
Romantic Poetry — The emphasis on deep emotional expression and the idealization of love aligns with characteristics of Romantic poetry.