Sonnet: On The Sonnet

John Keats

If by dull rhymes our English must be chain'd,
And, like Andromeda, the Sonnet sweet
Fetter'd, in spite of pained loveliness,
Let us find, if we must be constrain'd,
Sandals more interwoven and complete
To fit the naked foot of Poesy:
Let us inspect the Lyre, and weigh the stress
Of every chord, and see what may be gain'd
By ear industrious, and attention meet;
Misers of sound and syllable, no less
Than Midas of his coinage, let us be
Jealous of dead leaves in the bay wreath crown;
So, if we may not let the Muse be free,
She will be bound with garlands of her own.

Next 10 Poems

• John Keats : Stanzas
• John Keats : The Day Is Gone, And All Its Sweets Are Gone
• John Keats : The Dove
• John Keats : The Eve Of St. Agnes
• John Keats : The Human Seasons
• John Keats : Think Not Of It, Sweet One
• John Keats : Think Of It Not, Sweet One
• John Keats : This Living Hand
• John Keats : To -
• John Keats : To A Friend Who Sent Me Some Roses

Previous 10 Poems

• John Keats : Song Of The Indian Maid, From 'endymion'
• John Keats : Robin Hood
• John Keats : On The Sea
• John Keats : On The Grasshopper And Cricket
• John Keats : On Sitting Down To Read King Lear Once Again
• John Keats : On Seeing The Elgin Marbles For The First Time
• John Keats : On Leaving Some Friends At An Early Hour
• John Keats : On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer
• John Keats : On Fame
• John Keats : Ode To Psyche