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Ode on Melancholy 
John Keats 
Lamia, Isabella etc (1820, 25)
composed May - June 1819 (24)

No, no! go not to Lethe, neither twist 
Wolf's-bane, tight-rooted, for its poisonous wine; 
Nor suffer thy pale forehead to be kissed 
By nightshade, ruby grape of Proserpine; 
Make not your rosary of yew-berries, 
Nor let the beetle nor the death-moth be 
Your mournful Psyche, nor the downy owl
A partner in your sorrow's mysteries; 
For shade to shade will come too drowsily, 
And drown the wakeful anguish of the soul.

But when the melancholy fit shall fall 
Sudden from heaven like a weeping cloud, 
That fosters the droop-headed flowers all, 
And hides the green hill in an April shroud; 
Then glut thy sorrow on a morning rose, 
Or on the rainbow of the salt sand-wave, 
Or on the wealth of globèd peonies;
Or if thy mistress some rich anger shows, 
Emprison her soft hand, and let her rave, 
And feed deep, deep upon her peerless eyes.

She lives in Beauty - Beauty that must die; 
And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips 
Bidding adieu; and aching Pleasure nigh, 
Turning to poison while the bee-mouth sips; 
Ay, in the very temple of delight 
Veiled Melancholy has her sovran shrine, 
Though seen of none save him whose strenuous tongue
Can burst Joy's grape against his palate fine; 
His soul shall taste the anguish of her might, 
And be among her cloudy trophies hung.