Monody on a Tea-Kettle
- 1O Muse who sangest late another's pain,
- 2To griefs domestic turn thy coal-black steed!
- 3With slowest steps thy funeral steed must go,
- 4Nodding his head in all the pomp of woe:
- 5Wide scatter round each dark and deadly weed,
- 6And let the melancholy dirge complain,
- 7(Whilst Bats shall shriek and Dogs shall howling run)
- 8The tea-kettle is spoilt and Coleridge is undone!
- 9Your cheerful songs, ye unseen crickets, cease!
- 10Let songs of grief your alter'd minds engage!
- 11For he who sang responsive to your lay,
- 12What time the joyous bubbles 'gan to play,
- 13The sooty swain has felt the fire's fierce rage;--
- 14Yes, he is gone, and all my woes increase;
- 15I heard the water issuing from the wound--
- 16No more the Tea shall pour its fragrant steams around!
- 17O Goddess best belov'd! Delightful Tea!
- 18With thee compar'd what yields the madd'ning Vine?
- 19Sweet power! who know'st to spread the calm delight,
- 20And the pure joy prolong to midmost night!
- 21Ah! must I all thy varied sweets resign?
- 22Enfolded close in grief thy form I see;
- 23No more wilt thou extend thy willing arms,
- 24Receive the fervent Jove, and yield him all thy charms!
- 25How sink the mighty low by Fate opprest!--
- 26Perhaps, O Kettle! thou by scornful toe
- 27Rude urg'd t' ignoble place with plaintive din.
- 28May'st rust obscure midst heaps of vulgar tin;--
- 29As if no joy had ever seiz'd my breast
- 30When from thy spout the streams did arching fly,--
- 31As if, infus'd, thou ne'er hadst known t' inspire
- 32All the warm raptures of poetic fire!
- 33But hark! or do I fancy the glad voice--
- 34'What tho' the swain did wondrous charms disclose--
- 35(Not such did Memnon's sister sable drest)
- 36Take these bright arms with royal face imprest,
- 37A better Kettle shall thy soul rejoice,
- 38And with Oblivion's wings o'erspread thy woes!'
- 39Thus Fairy Hope can soothe distress and toil;
- 40On empty Trivets she bids fancied Kettles boil!