On Friendship

In Phillis Wheatley’s one-stanza poem, crafted in heroic couplets, the tone of the speaker is one of reverence and respect towards the subject of the poem.

The first line uses the assonance of “a,” or repeating vowel sounds to augment the word “amicitia” (Line 1). Amicitia is the Latin word for “friendship,” which is the subject of the poem. The words “ample reign” connect back to the assonance of “a” but also suggest a comparison between friendship and a queen (Line 1). In using the pronoun “her” and depicting friendship as queen-like in her power (Line 1), Wheatley remains consistent to the feminine gender form of the Latin word.

The second line continues the idea of “ample” from the first line by bringing in the word “celestial” (Line 2), which encompasses the sky and even beyond into heaven. Wheatley describes the “notes” (Line 2) “extend[ing]” into a “celestial strain” (Line 2), suggesting that friendship is a form of divine music, something both powerful and uplifting. Friendship has far-reaching capabilities, like the wavelength of a song from the earth to the heavens.

The third line features alliteration—the repetition of initial consonant sounds—of “b” sounds with “benevolent” and “bright” (Line 3), creating a sense of tidiness and harmony. The adjectives also enhance the depiction of friendship as quasi-divine or “celestial,” as the Christian God is often depicted as a benevolent, redemptive force radiating light. The poem implies that friendship also shares these divine qualities, connecting back to the celestial realm of the sky and beyond.

Line 4 brings in another Latin word, “amor” (Line 4), which means “love” or “beloved.” This line is also the first time the poet interjects a first-person pronoun, using “me” (Line 4) in relation to the wonder of personified friendship. The speaker appears as an awe-struck recipient of a deep and meaningful bond, describing herself as “triumph[ing] at the sight” (Line 4) of love and friendship. Line 5 has the speaker thinking about “gratitude,” likely at the benevolence expressed in Line 3, as well as being grateful to be worthy of the love that comes from friendship.

In Line 6, the speaker presents friendship as a welcome inspiration for her “mental imaginations” (Line 6). The speaker then describes wanting to use this inspiration for deep reflection, wishing to plunge her “thoughts in contemplation” (Line 7) and suggesting the intensity of her reflections. The speaker plans to “steer” (Line 7), these thoughts, giving her a sense of control rather than just being awe-struck, as earlier in the poem.

The eighth and final line of the poem has multiple interpretations. The alliteration of the “f” sound in “footsteps” and “fair” sets a tone of finality or decisiveness (Line 8). The speaker is steering the footsteps, presumably of friendship, while the phrase “superlative fair” might refer to the fairest one, i.e., personified friendship or the beloved friend. The speaker determines that she has a say in the act of friendship. The word “fair” also suggests a lack of self-interest and unbiased ethics, alluding to the idea of friendship as the highest good between two people.