John Keats. 1795-1821
635. When I have Fears that I may cease to be
1 min to read
110 words

WHEN I have fears that I may cease to be Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain, Before high pil`d books, in charact'ry, Hold like rich garners the full-ripen'd grain; When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face, Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance, And feel that I may never live to trace Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance; And when I feel, fair creature of an hour! That I shall never look upon thee more, Never have relish in the faery power Of unreflecting love;—then on the shore   Of the wide world I stand alone, and think,   Till Love and Fame to nothingness do sink.

Read next chapter  >>
John Keats. 1795-1821
636. To Sleep
1 min to read
103 words
Return to The Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250–1900






Comments