OdeToANightingale

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?