by Coleridge · Cluster: Transience · Decay · Carpe Diem
Abstract
A lyric song from the play Zapolya: a jewel-bright enchanted bird sings of fleeting May, fading dew and the transience of love’s dreams. Themes: transience, love, carpe diem.
Connections
Topoi: Carpe Diem, Tempus Fugit Motifs: Birds, Spring Themes & Concepts: Transience, Romantic Love Forms & Genres: Comic Verse Song
Testo integrale / Full text
A Sunny shaft did I behold,
From sky to earth it slanted:
And poised therein a bird so bold —
Sweet bird, thou wert enchanted!
He sank, he rose, he twinkled, he trolled 5
Within that shaft of sunny mist;
His eyes of fire, his beak of gold,
All else of amethyst!
And thus he sang: ‘Adieu! adieu!
Love’s dreams prove seldom true. 10
The blossoms they make no delay:
The sparkling dew-drops will not stay.
Sweet month of May,
We must away;
Far, far away! 15
To-day! to-day!’
1815.