SONNET

WHEN I have fears that I may cease to be
  Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high-piled books, in charactery,
  Hold like rich garners the full ripen'd grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
  Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
  Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
  That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the fairy power
  Of unreflecting love; -- then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.

JOHN KEATS



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
John Keats is generally regarded as one of the finest poets who ever lived.
Born in London on Halloween of 1795, he initially studied to be a physician 
but turned continually back to his first passion, poetry.  Best known for 
his Odes, he produced a number of stellar works at a surprisingly 
young age.  He died on February 23, 1821 at the age of 25.