{
 "id": "john-keats/epistle-to-my-brother-george",
 "title": "Epistle to My Brother George",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "John Keats",
 "poet_slug": "john-keats",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Poems",
 "book_slug": "poems",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": null,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1817,
  "venue": "Poems (1817)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/poems008365mbp"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/john-keats_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://archive.org/details/completepoetical01keat",
   "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005261190"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-12"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 142,
  "n_stanzas": 4,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 53,
  "max_indent": 1
 },
 "site_ready": true,
 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "Full many a dreary hour have I past,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "My brain bewilder’d, and my mind o’ercast",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With heaviness; in seasons when I’ve thought",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No spherey strains by me could e’er be caught",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From the blue dome, though I to dimness gaze",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On the far depth where sheeted lightning plays;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or, on the wavy grass outstretch’d supinely,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pry ’mong the stars, to strive to think divinely:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That I should never hear Apollo’s song,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Though feathery clouds were floating all along",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The purple west, and, two bright streaks between,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The golden lyre itself were dimly seen:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That the still murmur of the honey bee",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Would never teach a rural song to me:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That the bright glance from beauty’s eyelids slanting",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Would never make a lay of mine enchanting,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or warm my breast with ardour to unfold",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Some tale of love and arms in time of old.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But there are times, when those that love the bay,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Fly from all sorrowing far, far away;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A sudden glow comes on them, nought they see",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In water, earth, or air, but poesy.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It has been said, dear George, and true I hold it,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "(For knightly Spenser to Libertas told it,)",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That when a Poet is in such a trance,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In air he sees white coursers paw and prance,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bestridden of gay knights, in gay apparel,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who at each other tilt in playful quarrel;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And what we, ignorantly, sheet-lightning call,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Is the swift opening of their wide portal,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When the bright warder blows his trumpet clear,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Whose tones reach nought on earth but Poet’s ear.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When these enchanted portals open wide,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And through the light the horsemen swiftly glide,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The Poet’s eye can reach those golden halls,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And view the glory of their festivals:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Their ladies fair, that in the distance seem",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Fit for the silv’ring of a seraph’s dream;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Their rich brimm’d goblets, that incessant run",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Like the bright spots that move about the sun;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And, when upheld, the wine from each bright jar",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pours with the lustre of a falling star.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet further off are dimly seen their bowers,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of which no mortal eye can reach the flowers;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And ’tis right just, for well Apollo knows",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "’Twould make the Poet quarrel with the rose.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "All that’s reveal’d from that far seat of blisses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Is, the clear fountains’ interchanging kisses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As gracefully descending, light and thin,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Like silver streaks across a dolphin’s fin,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When he upswimmeth from the coral caves,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And sports with half his tail above the waves.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "These wonders strange he sees, and many more,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Whose head is pregnant with poetic lore.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Should he upon an evening ramble fare",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With forehead to the soothing breezes bare,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Would he nought see but the dark, silent blue,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With all its diamonds trembling through and through?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or the coy moon, when in the waviness",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of whitest clouds she does her beauty dress,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And staidly paces higher up, and higher,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Like a sweet nun in holiday attire?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ah, yes! much more would start into his sight⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The revelries, and mysteries of night:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And should I ever see them, I will tell you",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Such tales as needs must with amazement spell you.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "These are the living pleasures of the bard:",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But richer far posterity’s award.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "What does he murmur with his latest breath,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While his proud eye looks through the film of death?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“What though I leave this dull and earthly mould",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet shall my spirit lofty converse hold",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With after times.⁠—The patriot shall feel",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "My stern alarum, and unsheath his steel;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or in the senate thunder out my number",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To startle princes from their easy slumber.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The sage will mingle with each moral theme,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "My happy thoughts sententious; he will teem",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With lofty periods when my verses fire him,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And then I’ll stoop from heaven to inspire him.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lays have I left of such a dear delight",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That maids will sing them on their bridal night.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Gay villagers, upon a morn of May,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When they have tired their gentle limbs with play,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And form’d a snowy circle on the grass,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And plac’d in midst of all that lovely lass",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who chosen is their queen,⁠—with her fine head",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Crownèd with flowers purple, white, and red.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For there the lily, and the musk-rose, sighing,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Are emblems true of hapless lovers dying;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Between her breasts, that never yet felt trouble,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A bunch of violets full blown, and double,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Serenely sleep:⁠—she from a casket takes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A little book,⁠—and then a joy awakes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "About each youthful heart,⁠—with stifled cries,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And rubbing of white hands, and sparkling eyes:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For she’s to read a tale of hopes and fears;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "One that I foster’d in my youthful years:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The pearls, that on each glist’ning circlet sleep,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Gush ever and anon with silent creep,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lured by the innocent dimples. To sweet rest",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Shall the dear babe, upon its mother’s breast,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Be lull’d with songs of mine. Fair world, adieu!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy dales and hills are falling from my view:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Swiftly I mount, upon wide-spreading pinions,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Far from the narrow bounds of thy dominions.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Full joy I feel, while thus I cleave the air,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That my soft verse will charm thy daughters fair.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And warm thy sons!” Ah, my dear friend and brother,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Could I, at once, my mad ambition smother,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For tasting joys like these, sure I should be",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Happier, and dearer to society.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "At times, ’tis true, I’ve felt relief from pain",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When some bright thought has darted through my brain:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Through all that day I’ve felt a greater pleasure",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Than if I’d brought to light a hidden treasure.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As to my sonnets, though none else should heed them,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I feel delighted, still, that you should read them.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of late, too, I have had much calm enjoyment,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Stretch’d on the grass at my best lov’d employment",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of scribbling lines for you. These things I thought",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While, in my face, thy freshest breeze I caught.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "E’en now I’m pillow’d on a bed of flowers",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That crowns a lofty cliff, which proudly towers",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Above the ocean waves. The stalks and blades",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Chequer my tablet with their quivering shades.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On one side is a field of drooping oats,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Through which the poppies show their scarlet coats;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So pert and useless, that they bring to mind",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The scarlet coats that pester human-kind.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And on the other side, outspread, is seen",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ocean’s blue mantle, streak’d with purple, and green;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Now ’tis I see a canvass’d ship, and now",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Mark the bright silver curling round her prow.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I see the lark down-dropping to his nest,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the broad-winged sea-gull never at rest;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For when no more he spreads his feathers free,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His breast is dancing on the restless sea.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Now I direct my eyes into the west,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Which at this moment is in sunbeams drest:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Why westward turn? ’Twas but to say adieu!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "’Twas but to kiss my hand, dear George, to you!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}