When I have fears that I may cease to be Before my pen has…
““When I have fears that I may cease to be Before my pen has glean’d my teeming brain, Before high piled books, in charact’ry, Hold like rich garners the full-ripen’d grain; When I behold, upon the night’s starr’d face, Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance, And think that I may never live to trace Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance; And when I feel, fair creature of an hour! That I shall never look upon thee more, Never have relish in the faery power Of unreflecting love!—then on the shore Of the wide world I stand alone, and think Till Love and Fame to nothingness do sink. When I Have Fears That I May Cease To Be ””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poet fears death will prevent him from achieving artistic and romantic fulfillment.
In simple terms: Fear of dying before completing dreams.
Key Takeaway
Embrace creation despite mortality.
Themes
mortality
art
unrealized potential
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- artistic pursuits
- legacy planning
- relationship building
Key Concepts
existential dread
creative urgency
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you create if time were unlimited?
- How do you balance fear and action?
A Different Perspective
Fear may paralyze rather than motivate.