When I Have Fears That I May Cease To Be When I have fears that I may cease to be Before my pen has gleanβd my teeming brain, Before high piled books, in charactβry, Hold like rich garners the full-ripenβd grain; When I behold, upon the nightβs starrβd face, Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance, And think that I may never live to trace Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance; And when I feel, fair creature of an hour! That I shall never look upon thee more, Never have relish in the faery power Of unreflecting love!βthen on the shore Of the wide world I stand alone, and think Till Love and Fame to nothingness do sink.