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On Being Brought from Africa to America by Phillis Wheatley

Analysis

"On Being Brought from Africa to America" is a poem written by Phillis Wheatley. This poem is about Wheatley changing religions and becoming a Christian. She states that she was brought from a "Pagan Land" and her soul was taught "to understand / That there's a God". She goes on to say that "Negro's, black as Cain" can "join th' angelic train" of Christianity.

This poem is made up of only one stanza that has eight lines. It's rhyme scheme is AABBCCDD. It's written in iambic-pentameter and thus can be considered to have "heroic couplets".

Poem

On Being Brought from Africa to America
By 

'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic die."
Remember, Christians, Negro's, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.
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