I.
Swifter far than summer’s flight–
Swifter far than youth’s delight–
Swifter far than happy night,
Art thou come and gone–
As the earth when leaves are dead,
As the night when sleep is sped,
As the heart when joy is fled,
I am left lone, alone.
II.
The swallow summer comes again–
The owlet night resumes her reign–
But the wild-swan youth is fain
To fly with thee, false as thou.–
My heart each day desires the morrow;
Sleep itself is turned to sorrow;
Vainly would my winter borrow
Sunny leaves from any bough.
III.
Lilies for a bridal bed–
Roses for a matron’s head–
Violets for a maiden dead–
Pansies let MY flowers be:
On the living grave I bear
Scatter them without a tear–
Let no friend, however dear,
Waste one hope, one fear for me.
(Percy Bysshe Shelley)
More Poetry from Percy Bysshe Shelley:
Percy Bysshe Shelley Poems based on Topics: Sadness, Night, Sleep, Joy & Excitement, Art, Hope, Youth, Friendship- Julian and Maddalo : A Conversation (Percy Bysshe Shelley Poems)
- Epipsychidion (Percy Bysshe Shelley Poems)
- The Daemon Of The World (Percy Bysshe Shelley Poems)
- Scenes From The Faust Of Goethe (Percy Bysshe Shelley Poems)
- Queen Mab: Part VII. (Percy Bysshe Shelley Poems)
- Queen Mab: Part I. (Percy Bysshe Shelley Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Night Poems, Sadness Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Youth Poems, Friendship Poems, Hope Poems, Sleep Poems, Art PoemsBased on Keywords: owlet, wild-swan