O muse who sangest late another's pain, To griefs domestic turn thy coal-black steed! With slowest steps thy funeral steed must go, Nodding his head in all the pomp of woe: Wide scatter round each dark and deadly weed, And let the melancholy dirge complain, (While Bats shall shriek and Dogs shall howling run) The tea-kettle is spoilt and Coleridge is undone! Your cheerful songs, ye unseen crickets cease! Let songs of grief your alter'd minds engage! For he who sang responsive to your lay, What time the joyous bubbles 'gan to play, The sooty swain has felt the fire's fierce rage -- Yes he is gone, and all my woes increase; I heard the Water issuing from the Wound -- No more the Tea shall pour its flagrant steams around! O Goddess best beloved, delightful Tea! With thee compar'd what yields the madd'ning vine? Sweet power! who know'st to spread the calm delight, And the pure joy prolong to midmost night! Ah! must I all thy varied sweets resign? Enfolded close in grief thy form I see No more wilt thou extend thy willing arms, Receive the fervent Jove and yield him all thy charms! How sink the mighty low by Fate opprest! Perhaps O Kettle! thou by scornful toe Rude urg'd t' ignoble place with plaintive din, May'st rust obscure midst heaps of vulgar tin -- As if no joy had ever seiz'd my breast When from thy spout the streams did arching fly -- As if infus'd thou ne'er hadst known t' inspire All the warm raptures of poetic fire! But hark! or do I fancy the glad voice -- 'What tho' the swain did wondrous charms disclose -- (Not such did Memnon's sister sable drest) Take these bright arms with royal face imprest. A better Kettle shall thy soul rejoice, And with Oblivion's wings o'erspread thy woes!' Thus Fairy Hope can soothe distress and toil; On empty Trivets she bids fancied Kettles boil! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JUDGE NOT by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER KEARNY AT SEVEN PINES [MAY 31, 1862] by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN MINNIE AND WINNIE by ALFRED TENNYSON IN THE WATER by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONATUICA): MEDEA'S HESITATION by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS THE AUTO-DA-FE; A LEGEND OF SPAIN by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL (VERSION 2) by WILLIAM BLAKE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO EARNEST AND IMPORTUNATE PRAYER by JOHN BYROM |