John Keats, poet-seer lover of beauty

Today, 23 February, is John Keats' passing anniversary. He was snatched away at the young age of 26 (he would have been 27 on 31 October 1821).

I have to thank Sri Chinmoy for knowing Keats. Because of Guru's work Philosopher-Thinkers: The Power-Towers Of The Mind And Poet-Seers: The Fragrance-Hours Of The Heart In The West I became quite sensitive to Keats poetry.

One day I will write about how that book touched and changed my life. For now, here is a section from the volume related to 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 mag nificence 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