I Think John Keats' Poetry Is Beautiful
I have recently been developing a mild obsession with the great John Keats and his love letters. On several occasions I have caught myself, enraptured, and whispering to myself the melodic lines of his letters to Fanny. The effect of these letters is so powerful - I literally feel my heart aching as I read them! I want to cheer the lovers on, delight in their infatuations and despair with them over their rotten separation.
My adoration of Keats has become increasingly more tantalising with the recent discovery that one can visit his home in London! I know I must go, yet maybe I need an accomplice, a lover, to share in such an amorous experience.
''This moment I have set myself to copy some verses out fair. I cannot proceed with any degree of content. I must write you a line or two and see if that will assist in dismissing you from my Mind for ever so short a time. Upon my Soul I can think of nothing else – The time is passed when I had power to advise and warn you again[s]t the unpromising morning of my Life – My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you – I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again – my Life seems to stop there – I see no further. You have absorb’d me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving – I should be exquisitely miserable without the hope of soon seeing you. I should be afraid to separate myself far from you. My sweet Fanny, will your heart never change? My love, will it? I have no limit now to my love – Your note came in just here – I cannot be happier away from you – ‘T is richer than an Argosy of Pearles. Do not threat me even in jest. I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion – I have shudder’d at it – I shudder no more – I could be martyr’d for my Religion – Love is my religion – I could die for that – I could die for you. My Creed is Love and you are its only tenet – You have ravish’d me away by a Power I cannot resist: and yet I could resist till I saw you; and even since I have seen you I have endeavoured often “to reason against the reasons of my Love.” I can do that no more – the pain would be too great – My Love is selfish – I cannot breathe without you. ''
Keats' words fill me with desire, hope and colourful vibrancy. For a heart that is still mending, his words are a soothing balm - reminding me that maybe, one day, I will be capable of loving another worthy of my attentions again.
My adoration of Keats has become increasingly more tantalising with the recent discovery that one can visit his home in London! I know I must go, yet maybe I need an accomplice, a lover, to share in such an amorous experience.
''This moment I have set myself to copy some verses out fair. I cannot proceed with any degree of content. I must write you a line or two and see if that will assist in dismissing you from my Mind for ever so short a time. Upon my Soul I can think of nothing else – The time is passed when I had power to advise and warn you again[s]t the unpromising morning of my Life – My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you – I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again – my Life seems to stop there – I see no further. You have absorb’d me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving – I should be exquisitely miserable without the hope of soon seeing you. I should be afraid to separate myself far from you. My sweet Fanny, will your heart never change? My love, will it? I have no limit now to my love – Your note came in just here – I cannot be happier away from you – ‘T is richer than an Argosy of Pearles. Do not threat me even in jest. I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion – I have shudder’d at it – I shudder no more – I could be martyr’d for my Religion – Love is my religion – I could die for that – I could die for you. My Creed is Love and you are its only tenet – You have ravish’d me away by a Power I cannot resist: and yet I could resist till I saw you; and even since I have seen you I have endeavoured often “to reason against the reasons of my Love.” I can do that no more – the pain would be too great – My Love is selfish – I cannot breathe without you. ''
Keats' words fill me with desire, hope and colourful vibrancy. For a heart that is still mending, his words are a soothing balm - reminding me that maybe, one day, I will be capable of loving another worthy of my attentions again.
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