Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON A PICTURE OF LEANDER, by JOHN KEATS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON A PICTURE OF LEANDER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Come hither all sweet maidens soberly
Last Line: He's gone; up bubbles all his amorous breath!
Subject(s): Dardanelles; Hero & Leander; Hellespont; Leander


COME hither, all sweet maidens soberly,
Down-looking aye, and with a chastened light
Hid in the fringes of your eyelids white,
And meekly let your fair hands joined be,
As if so gentle that ye could not see,
Untouched, a victim of your beauty bright,
Sinking away to his young spirit's night,
Sinking bewildered mid the dreary sea:
'T is young Leander toiling to his death;
Nigh swooning, he doth purse his weary lips
For Hero's cheek, and smiles against her smile.
O horrid dream! see how his body dips
Dead-heavy; arms and shoulders gleam awhile:
He's gone; up bubbles all his amorous breath!





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