WHEN I HAVE FEARS THAT I MAY CEASE TO BE

WHEN I HAVE FEARS THAT I MAY CEASE TO BE

JOHN KEATS

WHEN I HAVE FEARS THAT I MAY CEASE TO BE

BEFORE MY PEN HAS GLEAN=D MY TEEMING BRAIN,

BEFORE HIGH PILED BOOKS,IN CHARACTRY,

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 THINK THAT I MAY NEVER LIVE TO TRACE

THEIR SHADOWS WITH THE MAJIC 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 FAIRY 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.