# A Prophecy explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by John Keats.

## What happens

The speaker invokes the moon, stars, and sky to listen to a lullaby for an infant. The child is prophesied to become a poet, as a flaming lyre appears above the cradle and the infant touches it unharmed, signaling a destined poetic future.

## Themes in this chapter

### Dreams and Escape

The lullaby and prophetic vision create a dreamlike atmosphere, envisioning the child's escape into a poetic destiny.

### Art and Poetry

The central prophecy is that the child will become a poet, symbolized by the flaming lyre and the infant's fearless interaction with it.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who sings the lullaby and prophesies the child's future as a poet.

### Child

The infant addressed in the lullaby, prophesied to become a poet.

## Key lines

> Child, I know thee! Child no more, But a Poet evermore!

I recognize you, child; you are no longer just a child but will be a poet forever.

_The speaker declares the child's transformation into a poet._

> It lifts its little hand into the flame Unharm'd, and on the strings Paddles a little tune, and sings, With dumb endeavour sweetly— Bard art thou completely!

The infant reaches into the fire without injury, strums the lyre, and produces a sweet sound, confirming its complete identity as a poet.

_The miraculous act of touching the flaming lyre symbolizes the child's destined poetic gift._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/a-prophecy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters