@3Jane Williams, in her last letter to Shelley, wrote: 'Why do you talk of never enjoying moments like the past? Are you going to join your friend Plato, or do you expect I shall do so soon? Buona Notte.' This letter was dated July 6th, and Shelley was drowned on the 8th. These verses are supposed to be addressed to Jane by the poet's spirit while his body is tossing on the waters of Spezzia.@1 ARIEL to Miranda: -- Hear This good-night the sea-winds bear; And let thine unacquainted ear Take grief for their interpreter. Good-night! I have risen so high Into slumber's rarity, Not a dream can beat its feather Through the unsustaining ether. Let the sea-winds make avouch How thunder summoned me to couch, Tempest curtained me about And turned the sun with his own hand out: And though I toss upon my bed My dream is not disquieted; Nay, deep I sleep upon the deep, And my eyes are wet, but I do not weep; And I fell to sleep so suddenly That my lips are moist yet -- could'st thou see -- With the good-night draught I have drunk to thee. Thou canst not wipe them; for it was Death Damped my lips that has dried my breath. A little while -- it is not long -- The salt shall dry on them like the song. Now know'st thou that voice desolate, -- Mourning ruined joy's estate, -- Reached thee through a closing gate. 'Go'st thou to Plato?' Ah, girl, no! It is to Pluto that I go. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LAST SUPPER by RAINER MARIA RILKE POCAHONTAS [JANUARY 5, 1608] by WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY WELCOME, LITTLE STRANGER (BY A DISPLACED THREE-YEAR-OLD) by CHARLES FOLLEN ADAMS FAREWELL by GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE THE BOBBIN-WINDER by JOSEPHINE ELIZABETH ARCHER THE FRONTIER GUARD by ANTON ALEXANDER VON AUERSPERG WHITE MOMENTS by KATHARINE LEE BATES |