Why Did I Laugh Tonight? No Voice Will Tell

Portrait of John Keats
John Keats 1795–1821

Why did I laugh tonight? No voice will tell: No God, no Demon of severe response, Deigns to reply from Heaven or from Hell. Then to my human heart I turn at once. Heart! Thou and I are here, sad and alone; I say, why did I laugh? O mortal pain! O Darkness! Darkness! ever must I moan, To question Heaven and Hell and Heart in vain. Why did I laugh? I know this Being's lease, My fancy to its utmost blisses spreads; Yet would I on this very midnight cease, And the world's gaudy ensigns see in shreds; Verse, Fame, and Beauty are intense indeed, But Death intenser—Death is Life's high meed.

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  1. abhi India

    critical appreciation

  2. simon Canada

    it is quite a nice poem i think. im studying it for my english coursework and i like it alot 9/10.

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