John Keats – To Hope
When by my solitary hearth I sit,
And hateful thoughts enwrap my soul in gloom;
When no fair dreams before my “mind’s eye” flit,
And the bare heath of life presents no bloom;
Sweet Hope, ethereal balm upon me shed,
And wave thy silver pinions o’er my head! 
Whene’er I wander, at the fall of night,
Where woven boughs shut out the moon’s bright ray,
Should sad Despondency my musings fright,
And frown, to drive fair Cheerfulness away,
Peep with the moonbeams through the leafy roof,
And keep that fiend Despondence far aloof!
Should Disappointment, parent of Despair,
Strive for her son to seize my careless heart;
When, like a cloud, he sits upon the air,
Preparing on his spell-bound prey to dart:
Chase him away, sweet Hope, with visage bright,
And fright him as the morning frightens night!
Whene’er the fate of those I hold most dear
Tells to my fearful breast a tale of sorrow,
O bright-eyed Hope, my morbidfancy cheer;
Let me awhile thy sweetest comforts borrow:
Thy heaven-born radiance around me shed,
And wave thy silver pinions o’er my head!
Should e’er unhappy love my bosom pain,
From cruel parents, or relentless fair;
O let me think it is not quite in vain
To sigh out sonnets to the midnight air!
Sweet Hope, ethereal balm upon me shed,
And wave thy silver pinions o’er my head!
And as, in sparkling majesty, a star
Gilds the bright summit of some gloomy cloud;
Brightening the half veil’d face of heaven afar:
So, when dark thoughts my boding spirit shroud,
Sweet Hope, celestial influence round me shed,
Waving thy silver pinions o’er my head!
Thanks for introducing me to the Pope. Although I am very against the church’s principle of the being the “only true” religion, convert all to christianity and all that, the outlook of John Paul II was something different. As a man with the power to change things, he did. 🙂
Thats right. He was a man who’s appeal was universal. I often wonder if there ever will be someone like him again. The devotion with which he served God and his love for human life in all its manifestations has carved a place for him in the hearts of countless souls who roam this planet.
His face radiates with a glow of purity. It just amazes me how I feel so every time I look at his picture. 🙂
There have been and will be such people always… all we need to do is increase our viewing angle, to look at the world instead of just vatican city 🙂
I must say that I agree that there might be many such people.
Nonetheless, it does not discount the fact that he continues to inspire the multitude of our times.
Reading Dan Brown forced me to look at the Vatican from another range in many respects. But I do believe that is one of the few institutions of this world whose inhabitants show total resolve in what they believe. And that fact has earned it my deepest respects and admiration.
okay this came up in my mind almost instantly when i read thru ur blog and the posts shown…. “Pope ryhmes with Hope!” Ever crossed ur mind? :p ;D
thats right! 🙂