Death & Dying

On Death

by John Keats 1795–1821

From Posthumous and Fugitive Poems

Death & Dying

Can death be sleep, when life is but a dream,
And scenes of bliss pass as a phantom by?
The transient pleasures as a vision seem,
And yet we think the greatest pain's to die.

How strange it is that man on earth should roam,
And lead a life of woe, but not forsake
His rugged path; nor dare he view alone
His future doom which is but to awake.

MLA

Keats, John. “On Death.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/keats/49/.

Chicago

Keats, John. “On Death.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/keats/49/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by John Keats