On first looking into Chapmans Homer by John Keats

Published: Oct. 2, 2007, 7:22 a.m.

Keats read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\nhttp://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/\n\nGiving voice to classic poetry.\n\n---------------------------------------------------\n\n On first looking into Chapman\u2019s Homer\nby John Keats (1795 \u2013 1821)\n \n Much have I travell\u2019d in the realms of gold, \n And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; \n Round many western islands have I been \n Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. \n Oft of one wide expanse had I been told \n That deep-brow\u2019d Homer ruled as his demesne; \n Yet did I never breathe its pure serene \n Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: \n Then felt I like some watcher of the skies \n When a new planet swims into his ken; \n Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes \n He star\u2019d at the Pacific\u2014and all his men \n Look\u2019d at each other with a wild surmise\u2014 \n Silent, upon a peak in Darien. \n\nYou can find more readings of Keats' poetry at:\nhttp://classicpoetryaloud.wordpress.com/category/John-Keats/