Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON THE SONNET, by JOHN KEATS



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON THE SONNET, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: If by dull rhymes our english must be chain'd
Last Line: She will be bound with garlands of her own.
Variant Title(s): Sonnet (on The Sonnet)
Subject(s): Sonnet (as Literary Form)


IF by dull rhymes our English must be chain'd,
And, like Andromeda, the Sonnet sweet
Fetter'd, in spite of pained loveliness,
Let us find out, if we must be constrain'd,
Sandals more interwoven and complete
To fit the naked foot of Poesy:
Let us inspect the Lyre, and weigh the stress
Of every chord, and see what may be gain'd
By ear industrious, and attention meet;
Misers of sound and syllable, no less
Than Midas of his coinage, let us be
Jealous of dead leaves in the bay wreath crown;
So, if we may not let the Muse be free,
She will be bound with garlands of her own.





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