When I have Fears that I may cease to be
Program Note
When I have Fears that I may cease to be is a poem by English poet John Keats (1795 - 1821) which profiles the inner thoughts of an individual reflecting on their own mortality and how that may affect priorities in that individual's life. Set as an inner-monologue, the music delineates between the outside world (exemplified by the subdued piano accompaniment), and the inner-thoughts of the person. Occasionally, the outer and inner-worlds mingle, sometimes complimentary, sometimes obtusely.