O! there are spirits of the air
Percy Bysshe Shelley
1792 to 1822
Track 1
Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.
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And moonlight seas, that are the voice
Still dost thou hope that greeting hands,
Oft hast thou turned from men thy lonely feet.
When they did answer thee; but they
Another's wealth:—tame sacrifice
Such lovely ministers to meet
O! there are spirits of the air,
On the false earth's inconstancy?
But changed to a foul fiend through misery.
And genii of the evening breeze,
The glory of the moon is dead;
Thine own soul still is true to thee,
Beside thee like thy shadow hangs,
Voice, looks, or lips, may answer thy demands?
This fiend, whose ghastly presence ever
Dream not to chase;—the mad endeavour
Of love, or moving thoughts to thee?
With mountain winds, and babbling springs,
Of these inexplicable things,
That natural scenes or human smiles
Could steal the power to wind thee in their wiles?
Dark as it is, all change would aggravate.
Cast, like a worthless boon, thy love away.
And thou hast sought in starry eyes
Be as thou art. Thy settled fate,
Night's ghosts and dreams have now departed;
And gentle ghosts, with eyes as fair
As star-beams among twilight trees:—
Beams that were never meant for thine,
To a fond faith! still dost thou pine?
Whose falsehood left thee broken-hearted;
Thou didst hold commune, and rejoice
Would scourge thee to severer pangs.
Ah! wherefore didst thou build thine hope
Did thine own mind afford no scope
Yes, all the faithless smiles are fled