OdeToANightingale
JohnKeats
Myheartaches,andadrowsynumbnesspains
Mysense,asthoughofhemlockIhaddrunk,
Oremptiedsomedullopiatetothedrains
Oneminutepast,andLethe-wardshadsunk:
'Tisnotthroughenvyofthyhappylot,
Butbeingtoohappyinthinehappiness--
Thatthou,lightwingedDryadofthetrees,
Insomemelodiousplot
Ofbeechengreen,andshadowsnumberless,
Singestofsummerinfull-throatedease.
O,foradraughtofvintage!thathathbeen
Cooledalongageinthedeep-delvedearth,
TastingofFloraandthecountrygreen,
Dance,andProvencalsong,andsunburntmirth!
OforabeakerfullofthewarmSouth,
Fullofthetrue,theblushfulHippocrene,
Withbeadedbubbleswinkingatthebrim,
Andpurple-stainedmouth,
ThatImaydrink,andleavetheworldunseen,
Andwiththeefadeawayintotheforestdim.
Fadefaraway,dissolve,andquiteforget
Whatthouamongsttheleaveshastneverknown,
Theweariness,thefever,andthefret
Here,wheremensitandheareachothergroan;
Wherepalsyshakesafew,sad,lastgreyhairs.
Whereyouthgrowspale,andspectre-thin,anddies;
Wherenuttothinkistobefullofsorrow
Andleaden-eyeddespairs;
WhereBeautycannotkeepherlustrouseyes,
OrnewLovepineatthembeyondto-morrow.
Away!away!forIwillflytothee,
NotchariotedbyBacchusandhispards,
ButontheviewlesswingsofPoesy,
Thoughthedullbrainperplexesandretards.
Alreadywiththee!tenderisthenight,
AndhaplytheQueen-Moonisonherthrone,
ClusteredaroundbyallherstarryFays;
Butherethereisnolight,
Savewhatfromheaveniswiththebreezesblown
Throughverduousgloomsandwindingmossyways.
Icannotsewhatflowersareatmyfeet,
Norwhatsoftincensehangsupontheboughs,
But,inembalmeddarkness,guesseachsweet
Wherewiththeseasonablemonthendows
Thegrass,thethicket,andthefruit-treewild--
Whitehawthorn,andthepastoraleglantine;
Fastfadingvioletscoveredupinleaves;
Andmid-May'seldestchild,
Thecomingmusk-rose,fullofdewywine,
Themurmuroushauntoffliesonsummereves.
DarklingIlisten;andformanyatime
IhavebeenhalfinlovewitheasefulDeath,
Calledhimsoftnamesinmanyamusedrhyme,
Totakeintotheairmyquietbreath;求
Nowmorethaneverseemsitrichtodie,
Toceaseuponthemidnightwithnopain,
Whilethouartpouringforththysoulabroad
Insuchanecstasy!
Stillwouldstthousing,andIhaveearsinvain
Tothehighrequiembecomeasod.
Thouwastnotbornfordeath,immortalBird!
Nohungrygenerationstreadtheedown;
ThevoiceIhearthispassingnighteasheard
Inancientdaysbyemperorandclown:
Perhapstheself-samesongthatfoundapath
ThroughthesadheartofRuth,when,sickforhome,
Shestoodintearsamidthealiencorn;
Thesamethatoft-timeshath
Charmedmagiccasements,openingonthefoam
Ofperilousseas,infaerylandsforlorn.
Forlorn!theverywordislikeabell
Totollmebackfromtheetomysoleself!
Adieu!thefancycannotcheatsowell
Assheisfamedtodo,deceivingelf.
Adieu!adieu!thyplaintiveanthemfades
Pastthenearmeadows,overthestillstream,
Upthehill-side;andnow'tisburieddeep
Inthenextvalley-glades:
Wasisavision,orawakingdream?
Fledisthatmusic--DoIwakeorsleep?
