Keats

 

John Keats

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever“-

A son of this earth unveiled this lore divine.
O lover of beauty, thy “Endymion”

And “Hyperion” veerless ever shall shine.

Thy wonder-arbour was born from five

Swift years-a recorded gift to mankind.

Although death snatched away thy life so hie,

The world keeps taut the demand of thy mind.

Keats’ “Endymion” is, no doubt, a grand success with its wonderful vividness and splendid felicity. But his “Hyperion” was, according to many critics, a sad failure. However, one cannot say that “Hyperion” has no magnificence at all. As ill-luck would have it, when this epic was brought to light, the poet was savagely criticised even by his bosom friends. As a result, his health broke down and the long-threatening consumption grew more formidable. He was ultimately compelled to pay his debt to nature. It will be no exaggeration to say that lack of indomitable zeal was in the main responsible for snatching away one of the wonder-poets of the world. Poor earth could not cherish his presence even for thirty fleeting years.

– Sri Chinmoy. Excerpt from Philosopher-Thinkers: The Power-Towers Of The Mind And Poet-Seers: The Fragrance-Hours Of The Heart In The West

Keats Quotes

‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty,’ – that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

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Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?

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He ne’er is crowned with immortality Who fears to follow where airy voices lead.

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Health is my expected heaven.

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Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter.

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I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart’s affections, and the truth of imagination.

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I am in that temper that if I were under water I would scarcely kick to come to the top.

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I equally dislike the favor of the public with the love of a woman – they are both a cloying treacle to the wings of independence.

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I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for religion – I have shuddered at it. I shudder no more – I could be martyred for my religion – Love is my religion – I could die for that.

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I would sooner fail than not be among the greatest.

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It appears to me that almost any man may like the spider spin from his own inwards his own airy citadel.

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Land and sea, weakness and decline are great separators, but death is the great divorcer for ever.

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Love in a hut, with water and a crust, is – Lover, forgive us! – cinders, ashes, dust.

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Love is my religion – I could die for it.

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Much have I traveled in the realms of gold, and many goodly states and kingdoms seen.

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My imagination is a monastery and I am its monk.

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Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced.

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Now a soft kiss – Aye, by that kiss, I vow an endless bliss.

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O fret not after knowledge – I have none, and yet my song comes native with the warmth. O fret not after knowledge – I have none, and yet the Evening listens.