James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.
February 23Keats
By Erasmus H. Brodie(Died Feb. 23, 1821)
R
And fresh Arcadian hills, why mute so soon?
Did the Gods grudge their unexpected boon,
And Phoebus envy back the lute he lent?
So sudden came thy song, so sudden went!
O well for thee—free of life’s fiery noon,
Free as a fairy underneath the moon,
But ill for us bereft of ravishment.
Not for our skies, piper of Grecian breed,
Nor suits our autumn melody with spring’s;
So hast thou fled on bright ethereal steed
With all thy young and rich imaginings
To be great-hearted Homer’s Ganymede,
Nor dropped one feather of thy shining wings.