To My Brothers
To My Brothers - context Summary
Composed for Tom's Birthday
Written as a birthday sonnet for his brother Tom, the poem frames a quiet domestic evening of shared reading and low flames. Keats celebrates fraternal intimacy and simple comforts while gently acknowledging mortality. The speaker rejoices in peaceful gatherings, hopes for many more such evenings of mutual consolation and reflection, and contrasts these small domestic joys with the eventual "great voice" that will call their spirits away.
Read Complete AnalysesSmall, busy flames play through the fresh laid coals, And their faint cracklings o'er our silence creep Like whispers of the household gods that keep A gentle empire o'er fraternal souls. And while, for rhymes, I search around the poles, Your eyes are fix d, as in poetic sleep, Upon the lore so voluble and deep, That aye at fall of night our care condoles. This is your birth-day Tom, and I rejoice That thus it passes smoothly, quietly. Many such eves of gently whisp'ring noise May we together pass, and calmly try What are this world s true joys, ere the great voice, From its fair face, shall bid our spirits fly.
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