by John Keats (1795 - 1821)
On the sea
Language: English
It keeps eternal whisperings around Desolate shores, and with its mighty swell Gluts twice ten thousand Caverns, till the spell Of Hecate leaves them their old shadowy sound. Often 'tis in such gentle temper found, That scarcely will the very smallest shell Be moved for days from where it sometime fell. When last the winds of Heaven were unbound. Oh, ye! who have your eyeballs vexed and tired, Feast them upon the wideness of the Sea; Oh ye! whose ears are dinned with uproar rude, Or fed too much with cloying melody--- Sit ye near some old Cavern's Mouth and brood, Until ye start, as if the sea nymphs quired!
Authorship:
- by John Keats (1795 - 1821), "On the sea", written 1817 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Vivian Fine (1913 - 2000), "On the sea", 1976, first performed 1976 [baritone and orchestra], from Sonnets for Baritone and Orchestra, no. 2. [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-08-21
Line count: 14
Word count: 110