To Mary Shelley
The world is dreary, And I am weary Of wandering on without thee, Mary; A joy was erewhile In thy voice and thy smile, And 'tis gone, when I should be gone too, Mary.
Percy Bysshe Shelley
The world is dreary, And I am weary Of wandering on without thee, Mary; A joy was erewhile In thy voice and thy smile, And 'tis gone, when I should be gone too, Mary.
Percy Bysshe Shelley speaks directly to his wife in this short, aching lyric. He tells her the world feels bleak and he is tired of moving through life without her. The simple, repetitive rhythm mirrors a lonely heartbeat.
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