Ocean

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

Manuscript of the dramatic poem "Ocean," written by Phillis Wheatley during her voyage from London, England to Boston, Massachusetts in 1773. The poem is titled at the top of the page and consists of 70 lines in flowing cursive handwriting over four pages. The paper itself is a single piece folded once, and then later folded into approximate fourths for storage. On what would be the outside panel of the paper, written in ink in a different hand, is a docket or label that reads [Ocean / A poem by Phillis / in her handwriting / made on her return from / England in Captain Calef / Sept. 1773 - ]. Beneath it, written in a third hand faintly in graphite pencil, is [Phillis Wheatley / negro poetess / of Mass.] There is a watermark at center of the page similar to "W" or "M.

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