Time’s Sea Hath Been Five Years at Its Slow Ebb

To a lady whom he saw for some moments at Vauxhall.

Time’s sea hath been five years at its low ebb,
Long hours have to and fro let creep the sand,
Since I was tangled in thy beauty’s web,
And snared by the ungloving of thine hand.
And yet I never look on midnight sky,
But I behold thine eyes’ well-memoried light;
I cannot look upon the rose’s dye,
But to thy cheek my soul doth take its flight;
I cannot look on any budding flower,
But my fond ear, in fancy at thy lips,
And hearkening for a love-sound, doth devour
Its sweets in the wrong sense: — Thou dost eclipse
Every delight with sweet remembering,
And grief unto my darling joys dost bring.

Source:

The poetical works of John Keats.
Copyright 1871
James Miller, 647 Broadway, New York