Friday, February 23, 2018

Poetry Friday: Keats


Sonnet X
Keats

To one who has been long in city pent,
  ’Tis very sweet to look into the fair
  And open face of heaven,—to breathe a prayer
Full in the smile of the blue firmament.
Who is more happy, when, with hearts content,
  Fatigued he sinks into some pleasant lair
  Of wavy grass, and reads a debonair
And gentle tale of love and languishment?
Returning home at evening, with an ear
  Catching the notes of Philomel,—an eye
Watching the sailing cloudlet’s bright career,
  He mourns that day so soon has glided by:
E’en like the passage of an angel’s tear
  That falls through the clear ether silently.


8 comments:

jama said...

Just beautiful, Ruth. This Keats sonnet is new to me and was just what I needed today. Thank you.

Liz Steinglass said...

Oh yes, this one speaks to me.

Alice Nine said...

Beautiful. Thank you, Ruth. I relate to the first line: "To one who has been long in city pent" ... especially if we narrow it a bit to "winter in the city."

Janet said...

I appreciate this glimpse of blue sky and warmth and reflection. We don't have cloudlets here, just full-fledged overcast.

Linda B said...

I can always count on you to bring thoughtful beauty, Ruth. Love "He mourns that day so soon has glided by:" Thank you!

Tabatha said...

A lair of wavy grass! The sailing cloudlet's bright career! That ending! Keats writes so beautifully.

Kay said...

Simply beautiful. I'm not by any means trapped in a city, but I still feel the longing to sink into a lair of wavy grass. I think it's all this rain that has me thinking so. AT least we saw the sun today!

Brenda at FriendlyFairyTales said...

I'd love to feel so peaceful inside as this poem.