“Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art –
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature’s patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth’s human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors –
No – yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breadth
And so live ever – or else swoon to death.” – John Keats

Drawing a comparison with star, omitting all its qualities except its steadfastness, is extremely brilliant.

Here star is an unchangeable observer. He carefully and eagerly watches all beautiful things happen around him. His eyes are at snow-filled mountains. And, it is in running waters. He is aware of the purpose for which the aforesaid beauties exist. Yet, he keeps a safe distance from the said things, making sure he does not get trapped inside these beauties. He does not want to get lost in those beauties. What he wants is to stay constant. Importantly, he attempts to remain unchangeable.

Like that constant star, the protagonist wants to stay undisturbed besides his love. His only need is to stay immersed in the love of his love. He enjoys her softness. And, what fuels him is his love’s calm breadth.

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