‘To…’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley

rosittajoseph

Feb 81 min read

Updated: Feb 19

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822), the most romantic and rebellious of poets, wrote these most touching lines. They form the last four lines of a passionate love poem, an appeal for the acceptance of the poet's love. However, deep within, they speak of the eternal struggle of human beings to find true happiness, true love, true peace and true greatness in life, despite all the sufferings, sorrows and misfortunes they must face.

The desire of the moth for the star,

Of the night for the morrow,

The devotion to something afar

From the sphere of our sorrow?

- From ‘To…’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Close-up of an open book with aged, yellowed pages. Text in French visible. Image or illustration slightly curled. Vintage, scholarly vibe.

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Sulagna Das Gupta

Feb 18

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

I can give not what men call love

But wilt thou accept not

The worship the heart lifts above...

rosittajoseph

Feb 19

Replying to

Yes, indeed. An appeal for genuine love that leads to self-realisation. The entire poem goes like this:

To ----

By Percy Bysshe Shelley

One word is too often profaned

For me to profane it,

One feeling too falsely disdained

For thee to disdain it;

One hope is too like despair

For prudence to smother,

And pity from thee more dear

Than that from another.

I can give not what men call love,

But wilt thou accept not

The worship the heart lifts above

And the Heavens reject not,—

The desire of the moth for the star,

Of the night for the morrow,

The devotion to something afar

From the sphere of our sorrow?

‘To…’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley

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To ----