"Tender Is The Night"
Away! away! for I will fly to thee,
Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards,
But on the viewless wings of Poesy
Though the dull brain perplexes and retards:
Already with thee! tender is the night.
And haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne,
Clustered around by all her starry Fays;
But here there is no light,
Save what from heaven is with the breezes blown
Through verdurous glooms and winding mossy ways.
In this passage from John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale," the poet longs to escape life's burdens, imagining a flight to the serene realm of the nightingale. Unlike Bacchus, the god of wine, who symbolizes escape through intoxication, Keats envisions poetry as his means of transcendence. The "viewless wings of Poesy" offer a spiritual journey, unfettered by the limitations of his "dull brain." As he joins the nightingale, the world transforms into a mystical, moonlit landscape where celestial beauty reigns. The phrase "tender is the night" not only captures the gentle allure of this ethereal escape but also serves as a poignant title for F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, evoking themes of fragile beauty and fleeting happiness. This imagery highlights poetry's power to transport us beyond reality's confines.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.