Reply
Tue 15 Feb, 2005 12:05 am
Did Keats write this when he was sick and dying?
It's a very sad poem.
Yes, Ray. Keats' life was indeed sad, and quite depressing. When I looked up his biography, it dismayed me to discover that he was treated more like a prisoner than a patient. I suspect this poem reflected his depression. Strange that after an autopsy was performed, his lungs were only slightly affected by the consumption (TB).
I like his poem "When I have fears that I May Cease to Be."
Wow that sounds like a good poem Letty, thanks.
Ray, all the romantic poets were fantastic. I find it odd that they died so young, but life styles and tuberculosis were a real threat.
As for Keats, the line that takes my breathe is:
"...a thing of beauty is a joy forever;
It's loveliness increases,
It will never pass into nothingness,
But still will keep a bower for us,
Full of dreams, and peace,
And quiet breathing..."
I did that from memory, so it may not be quite right, but the idea that he was expressing had nothing to do with our physical appearance. It had to do with all beauty.
Hey, Ray. You better climb in your time machine and zap yourself over to your time thread. Puff the magic dragon is there.