In darkness and in light, from herb and stone, Spreading itself where'er that Power may move Which has withdrawn his being to its own; Which wields the world with never-wearied love, Sustains it from beneath, and kindles it above. He is a portion of the loveliness Which once he made more lovely; he doth bear All new successions to the forms they wear, From trees and hearts and men into the heavens' light. The splendours of the firmament of time The brightness it may veil. When lofty thought Lifts a young heart above its mortal lair, And love and life contend in it, for what Shall be its earthly doom, the dead live there, air. The inheritors of unfulfilled renown Rose from their thrones, built beyond mortal thought, Far in the Unapparent. Chatterton Rose pale, his solemn agony had not And many more, whose names on earth are dark, So long as fire outlives the parent spark, "Thou art become as one of us," they cry; In darkness and in light, from herb and stone, Spreading itself where'er that Power may move Which has withdrawn his being to its own; Which wields the world with never-wearied love, Sustains it from beneath, and kindles it above. He is a portion of the loveliness Which once he made more lovely; he doth bear All new successions to the forms they wear, From trees and hearts and men into the heavens' light. The splendours of the firmament of time The brightness it may veil. When lofty thought Lifts a young heart above its mortal lair, And love and life contend in it, for what The inheritors of unfulfilled renown Rose from their thrones, built beyond mortal thought, Far in the Unapparent. Chatterton Rose pale, his solemn agony had not And many more, whose names on earth are dark, "Thou art become as one of us," they cry; "It was for thee yon kingless sphere has long Swung blind in unascended majesty, Silent alone amid an Heaven of song.. Assume thy winged throne, thou Vesper of our throng!" (Adonais.) JOHN KEATS. [Born, 1795. "Poems," published, 1817; "Endymion," 1818; "Lamia, Isabella," &c., 1820. Died, 1821.] POETS LEAVE THEIR SOULS ON EARTII. Bards of Passion and of Mirth, Ye have left your souls on earth! Have ye souls in heaven too, Double-lived in regions new ? Yes, and those of heaven commune |