To Hope Poem by John Keats

To Hope

Rating: 3.2


WHEN by my solitary hearth I sit,
And hateful thoughts enwrap my soul in gloom;
When no fair dreams before my "mind's eye" flit,
And the bare heath of life presents no bloom;
Sweet Hope, ethereal balm upon me shed,
And wave thy silver pinions o'er my head!

Whene'er I wander, at the fall of night,
Where woven boughs shut out the moon's bright ray,
Should sad Despondency my musings fright,
And frown, to drive fair Cheerfulness away,
Peep with the moonbeams through the leafy roof,
And keep that fiend Despondence far aloof!

Should Disappointment, parent of Despair,
Strive for her son to seize my careless heart;
When, like a cloud, he sits upon the air,
Preparing on his spell-bound prey to dart:
Chase him away, sweet Hope, with visage bright,
And fright him as the morning frightens night!

Whene'er the fate of those I hold most dear
Tells to my fearful breast a tale of sorrow,
O bright-eyed Hope, my morbidfancy cheer;
Let me awhile thy sweetest comforts borrow:
Thy heaven-born radiance around me shed,
And wave thy silver pinions o'er my head!

Should e'er unhappy love my bosom pain,
From cruel parents, or relentless fair;
O let me think it is not quite in vain
To sigh out sonnets to the midnight air!
Sweet Hope, ethereal balm upon me shed,
And wave thy silver pinions o'er my head!

In the long vista of the years to roll,
Let me not see our country's honour fade:
O let me see our land retain her soul,
Her pride, her freedom; and not freedom's shade.
From thy bright eyes unusual brightness shed---
Beneath thy pinions canopy my head!

Let me not see the patriot's high bequest,
Great Liberty! how great in plain attire!
With the base purple of a court oppress'd,
Bowing her head, and ready to expire:
But let me see thee stoop from heaven on wings
That fill the skies with silver glitterings!

And as, in sparkling majesty, a star
Gilds the bright summit of some gloomy cloud;
Brightening the half veil'd face of heaven afar:
So, when dark thoughts my boding spirit shroud,
Sweet Hope, celestial influence round me shed,
Waving thy silver pinions o'er my head!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM

A favorite poem that I likes much.

3 6 Reply
Sylvaonyema Uba 14 February 2017

...in sparkling majesty, a star Long and inspiring poem. Thanks for sharing! Sylva

6 3 Reply
Ransome Adejugbe 27 October 2015

Great flow. I enjoyed the entire poem. Awesome!

2 5 Reply
Uzefa Rashida M.a 25 March 2016

An ode to hope.. the poet finds hope to his best companion at all times of crises. great poem

5 2 Reply
Oduro Bright Amoh 03 October 2015

This sweet poem is like a prayer for hope in our darkest moments. I love it.

2 3 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 05 April 2020

So, when dark thoughts my boding spirit shroud, Sweet Hope, celestial influence round me shed, Waving thy silver pinions o'er my head! - beautiful. the great Keats. tony

0 2 Reply
maduve 14 June 2019

ddnt study literature in college nor high school but each time I read Keats poems my love for poetry grows deeper and deeper. lovely!

2 2 Reply
Sylvaonyema Uba 20 April 2018

Nice use of the sestet stanzaic form. Good use of stylistic embellishments Good rhythm. SylvaOnyema Uba

3 2 Reply
Joshua Adeyemi 10 March 2018

Should Disappointment, parent of Despair, Strive for her son to seize my careless heart;

3 2 Reply
richard L 16 November 2017

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6 2 Reply
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John Keats

John Keats

London, England
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