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 charactery, 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.”
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 worries that death will prevent him from fully expressing his imagination and love before his life ends.
In simple terms: Fear of dying before achieving artistic and romantic goals.
Key Takeaway
Cherish time and create now.
Themes
mortality
art
love
legacy
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- relationships
- legacy planning
Key Concepts
existential dread
creative urgency
romantic idealism
Questions to Reflect On
- What will you create before time runs out?
- How do you balance ambition with acceptance of mortality?
A Different Perspective
Life is finite, but art can endure beyond death.