(31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821 / London, England)

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When I have Fears that I may cease to be

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.

Submitted: Saturday, January 04, 2003


Read poems about / on: romance, magic, power, alone, world, night, love, fear

Comments about this poem (When I have Fears that I may cease to be by John Keats )

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  • Kamryn Chew (9/28/2008 9:43:00 PM)

    Keats takes my breath away with this one.
    Simply amazing.

    3 person liked.
    1 person did not like.
  • Patrick McFarland (12/10/2007 9:57:00 PM)

    This is Keats' masterpiece as well as one of the best poems ever written.

    1 person liked.
    1 person did not like.
  • J B (2/15/2005 4:51:00 PM)

    Can someone please explain what this means? ? I have to write a thesis paper on it by February 22! ! ! Thanks, Jessy

    2 person liked.
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