(INSCRIPTION FOR THE COUCH, STILL PRESERVED, ON WHICH HE PASSED THE LAST NIGHT OF HIS LIFE) 'TWIXT those twin worlds,--the world of Sleep, which gave No dream to warn,--the tidal world of Death, Which the earth's sea, as the earth, replenisheth,-- Shelley, Song's orient sun, to breast the wave, Rose from this couch that morn. Ah! did he brave Only the sea?--or did man's deed of hell Engulph his bark 'mid mists impenetrable? ... No eye discerned, nor any power might save. When that mist cleared, O Shelley? what dread veil Was rent for thee, to whom far-darkling Truth Reigned sovereign guide through thy brief ageless youth? Was the Truth thy Truth, Shelley!--Hush? All-Hail, Past doubt, thou gav'st it; and in Truth's bright sphere Art first of praisers, being most praised here. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONTRA MORTEM: THE MOUNTAIN FASTNESS by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE CELLO by RICHARD WATSON GILDER CHANNEL FIRING by THOMAS HARDY ODE TO LUDLOW CASTLE by LUCY AIKEN QUATRAIN: THE PARCAE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH COMMENDATORY VERSES TO MASSINGER'S PLAY, 'THE BONDMAN' by WILLIAM BASSE |