Epipsychidion by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Addressing the confined Emily, the speaker recalls his search for an ideal beloved and recognises her as the vision he had sought. He argues that love grows through sharing rather than exclusive attachment, then invites her to an island home where he imagines their bodies and spirits united. His attempt to express that union ends in anguish at the limits of words.
By Percy Bysshe Shelley · Genre: Love Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Poetry · 7,746 words
First lines
Verses Addressed to the Noble and Unfortunate Lady, Emilia V-,
Now Imprisoned in the Convent of -
Genres
- Love Poetry — The speaker declares his love for Emily and imagines shared kisses, bodily intimacy and the union of their spirits.
- Lyric Poetry — Direct addresses to Emily unfold in rhyming verse through declarations, remembered visions and wishes for a shared life.
- Philosophical Poetry — The speaker argues that sharing love, pleasure and thought increases them, contrasting this abundance with exclusive attachment.
Tags
ideal beloved · nonexclusive love · convent confinement · island retreat · bodily desire · spiritual union
What this Textopian page supports
Epipsychidion is listed on Textopian as a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Love Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Poetry
- Length: 7,746 words
- Structure: 1 section, 30 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for Epipsychidion by Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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