Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ELLEN, IF KEATS, by BENJAMIN ROSENBAUM


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ELLEN, IF KEATS, by                    
First Line: Ellen, when we walked in that turquoise night
Last Line: To gorgeous torsos, statues warmly cold!
Subject(s): Keats, John (1795-1821); Poetry & Poets


ELLEN, when we walked in that turquoise night,
Smouldering in frosty, yellow stars, you were
Like Sargent's Dancer glamorous in a stir
Of shadowing. . . . A nervous bit of white
With an unearthly glow upon your face. . .
A sketchy background. . . there, a dreamy hill,
And, here, a wavering rim of purple space --
O what a study for a master's skill!

If Keats were here, I wonder, would he mumble,
"The universal tinge of sober gold?"
O he would be so tender, strange, and humble,
So thrilled with beauty stars would move and stumble
Into his faltering words for him to mold
To gorgeous torsos, statues warmly cold!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net