Lines Written on a Page of Keats

[RC James]

Whatever hold surprise has

on my waking,

memories of you in my morning room,

alive with day,

drifting across the floor

to open the shutters,

then turning back to me

glowing as part of the sunrise,

shrink those epiphanies to shadow. 

 

Your movements,

twirling, arms raised,

years ago, spring to mind;

recollections

brim with delight

but bring to singular enjoyments,

racing up and down hills on horseback

or finishing, after months my latest novel,

no clear bliss.

 

This recall brings no refuge,

only stillness,

settling the memory of your beauty

into a calm sea mist;

for the sight of you I'd drown there,

your eyes wed to mine.

[Jac]

On 4/14/2023 at 7:53 PM, RC James said:

Whatever hold surprise has

on my waking,

memories of you in my morning room,

alive with day,

drifting across the floor

to open the shutters,

then turning back to me

glowing as part of the sunrise,

shrink those epiphanies to shadow. 

 

Your movements,

twirling, arms raised,

years ago, spring to mind;

recollections

brim with delight

but bring to singular enjoyments,

racing up and down hills on horseback

or finishing, after months my latest novel,

no clear bliss.

 

This recall brings no refuge,

only stillness,

settling the memory of your beauty

into a calm sea mist;

for the sight of you I'd drown there,

your eyes wed to mine.

l really like this.

[Omar Khalifah]

I loved how the longer lines have strong, urging feeling and the shorter ones bear a stillness or kind of calmness. Loved it