4/7/2014 Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats : The Poetry Foundation

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173742 1/2
OdeonaGrecianUrn
BYJOHNKEATS
Thoustillunravish'dbrideofquietness,
Thoufosterchildofsilenceandslowtime,
Sylvanhistorian,whocanstthusexpress
Aflowerytalemoresweetlythanourrhyme:
Whatleaffring'dlegendhauntsaboutthyshape
Ofdeitiesormortals,orofboth,
InTempeorthedalesofArcady?
Whatmenorgodsarethese?Whatmaidensloth?
Whatmadpursuit?Whatstruggletoescape?
Whatpipesandtimbrels?Whatwildecstasy?
Heardmelodiesaresweet,butthoseunheard
Aresweetertherefore,yesoftpipes,playon
Nottothesensualear,but,moreendear'd,
Pipetothespiritdittiesofnotone:
Fairyouth,beneaththetrees,thoucanstnotleave
Thysong,norevercanthosetreesbebare
BoldLover,never,nevercanstthoukiss,
Thoughwinningnearthegoalyet,donotgrieve
Shecannotfade,thoughthouhastnotthybliss,
Foreverwiltthoulove,andshebefair!
Ah,happy,happyboughs!thatcannotshed
Yourleaves,noreverbidtheSpringadieu
And,happymelodist,unwearied,
Foreverpipingsongsforevernew
Morehappylove!morehappy,happylove!
Foreverwarmandstilltobeenjoy'd,
Foreverpanting,andforeveryoung
Allbreathinghumanpassionfarabove,
Thatleavesahearthighsorrowfulandcloy'd,
Aburningforehead,andaparchingtongue.
Whoarethesecomingtothesacrifice?
Towhatgreenaltar,Omysteriouspriest,
Lead'stthouthatheiferlowingattheskies,
Andallhersilkenflankswithgarlandsdrest?
Whatlittletownbyriverorseashore,
Ormountainbuiltwithpeacefulcitadel,
Isemptiedofthisfolk,thispiousmorn?
And,littletown,thystreetsforevermore
Willsilentbeandnotasoultotell
Whythouartdesolate,cane'erreturn.
Home>Poems&Poets>OdeonaGrecianUrn
4/7/2014 Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats : The Poetry Foundation
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173742 2/2
OAtticshape!Fairattitude!withbrede
Ofmarblemenandmaidensoverwrought,
Withforestbranchesandthetroddenweed
Thou,silentform,dostteaseusoutofthought
Asdotheternity:ColdPastoral!
Whenoldageshallthisgenerationwaste,
Thoushaltremain,inmidstofotherwoe
Thanours,afriendtoman,towhomthousay'st,
"Beautyistruth,truthbeauty,thatisall
Yeknowonearth,andallyeneedtoknow."