The Indian Serenade
By Percy Bysshe Shelley
I.
I arise from dreams of thee
In the first sweet sleep of night,
When the winds are breathing low,
And the stars are shining bright
I arise from dreams of thee,
And a spirit in my feet
Hath led me -- who knows how?
To thy chamber window, Sweet!
II.
The wandering airs they faint
On the dark, the silent stream --
The Champak odours fail
Like sweet thoughts in a dream;
The nightingale's complaint,
It dies upon her heart; --
As I must on thine,
Oh, belovèd as thou art!
III.
Oh lift me from the grass!
I die! I faint! I fail!
Let thy love in kisses rain
On my lips and eyelids pale.
My cheek is cold and white, alas!
My heart beats loud and fast; --
Oh! press it close to thine again,
Where it will break at last.
Written early 1820.
Published 1822.
Source Book
The Lyrics and Shorter Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley
by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Copyright 1907, reprinted 1913
Published by London: J.M. Dent & Sons, Ltd.
New York: E.P. Dutton & Co.
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The Indian Serenade
by Percy Bysshe Shelley


