The Poetical Works of John Keats/On Visiting the Tomb of Burns

by John Keats

For other versions of this work, see On Visiting the Tomb of Burns.

ON VISITING THE TOMB OF BURNS.

The town, the churchyard, and the setting sun,
The clouds, the trees, the rounded hills all seem,
Though beautiful, cold—strange—as in a dream,
I dreamed long ago, now new begun.
The short-lived, paly, Summer is but won
From Winter's ague, for one hour's gleam;
Though sapphire-warm, their stars do never beam:
All is cold Beauty; pain is never done:
For who has mind to relish, Minos-wise,
The Real of Beauty, free from that dead hue
Sickly imagination and sick pride
Cast wan upon it! Burns! with honor due
I oft have honor'd thee. Great shadow, hide
Thy face; I sin against thy native skies.