To a Lady on the Death of Three Relations
The poem laments the loss of three relatives and explores themes of grief, mortality, and the transience of life. It expresses a sense of sorrow and longing for those who have passed away, while also acknowledging the inevitability of death. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of human existence and the impermanence of earthly relationships.
By Phillis Wheatley · First published 1773 · Genre: Elegy, Poetry, Religious · 356 words
First lines
We trace the pow'r of Death from tomb to tomb, / And his are all the ages yet to come.
'Tis his to call the planets from on high, / To blacken Phoebus, and dissolve the sky; / His too, when all in his dark realms are hurl'd, / From its firm base to shake the solid world; / His fatal sceptre rules the spacious whole, / And trembling nature rocks from pole to pole.
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Genres
- Elegy — The work mourns the loss of loved ones, reflecting on death and grief.
- Poetry — The text is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Religious — Themes of hope, faith, and the afterlife are prominent throughout the work.
- Philosophical — The exploration of mortality and existence invites deeper contemplation on life and death.
Tags
Elegy · Poetry · Mourning · Loss · Grief · Death · Family · Relationships · Empathy · Sympathy · Condolence · Tribute
What this Textopian page supports
To a Lady on the Death of Three Relations 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: Elegy, Poetry, Religious, Philosophical, Romanticism
- Length: 356 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for To a Lady on the Death of Three Relations by Phillis Wheatley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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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