Who are you? Introduce yourself

[Raphael]

Hey, I'm new here.

I've always had a profound love for John Keats ever since I was little. My father used to read me Keats' poetry before bedtime. For my Literature Based Research class, I am writing a paper on John Keats and the following poems : Bright Star, To Autumn, This living hand, now warm and capable.

Your Dad gave you a most excellent start in life Fragment! I wish you well in your studies. Welcome to the forum.

[Fragment]

Hey, I'm new here.

I've always had a profound love for John Keats ever since I was little. My father used to read me Keats' poetry before bedtime. For my Literature Based Research class, I am writing a paper on John Keats and the following poems : Bright Star, To Autumn, This living hand, now warm and capable.

Your Dad gave you a most excellent start in life Fragment! I wish you well in your studies. Welcome to the forum.

I agree with that. I have books and books of poetry and information on Keats. Always been a fan.

[keatsgrove]

Hello group ~

It seems that, as in life, I jumped into the conversation without properly introducing myself.

I am an American woman who was introduced to a letter from Keats to Fanny in a high school creative writing class. I came out of that session with my head spinning. I'd heard of Keats the Poet, but who was this man who wrote with such passion, such imagery, and who strung words together as if they'd been waiting to be put in that order? I read every book I could find, and, unusually, told no one about my new fascination. It's been a number of years since then, and I've shared many of my interests with others, but, like Fanny in a way, about this one I've been silent. I'd read that a Keats movie was being made, but when it never reached my area I forgot about it until I came across Bright Star on Netflix. That brought me here, so in a way I have finally spoken with others, albeit anonymously, about Keats. Now my younger daughter is in college, and I think she's of an age and sensitivity that I'm prepared to introduce her to his story.

A few years ago I traveled with some friends to the UK. One day in London we all went on separate excursions, and that's when I slipped away to Hampstead. After a lot of walking I finally found Wentworth Place (on Keats Grove, hence my group name). The house wasn't open that day, so I stood on the street in the spring sunlight for a very long time, blocking out sounds of traffic, listening to the birds, and mostly looking at the window in which he would have sat when he was ill, watching the people go by, hoping for a glimpse of Fanny. We also traveled in Scotland, and I was secretly delighted to gaze at many of the vistas I knew he'd seen.

At any rate, that is my Keats connection, thanks for reading, and good to meet you all.

[Raphael]

Hello, lovely to hear from you and your Keats' Journey.

I am an American woman who was introduced to a letter from Keats to Fanny in a high school creative writing class. I came out of that session with my head spinning.

I was like that when I was first introduced to his poetry and then again when I read his letters for the first time.

I'd heard of Keats the Poet, but who was this man who wrote with such passion, such imagery, and who strung words together as if they'd been waiting to be put in that order?

I love the way you expressed that and indeed it is that way- poetry had better come to him like leaves falling off the trees.

Now my younger daughter is in college, and I think she's of an age and sensitivity that I'm prepared to introduce her to his story.

I hope she enjoys "meeting" him...I know I did.

The house wasn't open that day, so I stood on the street in the spring sunlight for a very long time, blocking out sounds of traffic, listening to the birds, and mostly looking at the window in which he would have sat when he was ill, watching the people go by, hoping for a glimpse of Fanny.

I haven't been yet- want to go and sit and gaze and think just like you did...

[keatsgrove]

Thank you, Raphael! I hope you get to make the pilgrimage soon.

I forgot to mention that I have also stood in the Piazza de Spagna. This time the Keats museum was open but I just didn't want to go inside. I looked at the building, listened to the fountain, and wondered out of which window Keats tipped the bowls of his unsatisfactory dinner!

[Raphael]

I couldn't go to the Italian house nor his grave- would find it a little too upsetting.

[Cybele]

I, too, would much rather visit the place where he lived than the place he died.
However, I've heard many who have visited the Keats Shelley house in Rome report that the small rooms were surprisingly peaceful. A couple of people have said they expected to feel unsettled in such a place, but the opposite happened.

(And, I've never introduced myself here, either. I've always felt that I'm simply not interesting.)

[Saturn]

Nonsense, Cybele; everyone is interesting in their individuality. I've led a very strange life and in many ways an extremely limited and restricted life for many reasons but I still think and feel I have something interesting to say on the odd occasion and I'm sure however dull you think your Iife is, or has been, someone else will find that interesting. Introductions are not compulsorary here but are very welcome, and always interesting.

[Saturn]

And a hearty welcome to keatsgrove, before I forget.

[keatsgrove]

And a hearty welcome to keatsgrove, before I forget.

I like a hearty welcome! And I agree, everyone is interesting.

Re: the Keats - Shelley Museum - I'm conflicted in my "interactions" with Keats. On one hand, I want to know everything about him. On the other, out of respect, I feel like I should know and see only those things he'd want someone to see. Since he didn't seem to want much of the outside world to enter his Rome apartment towards the end, I want to respect his privacy, even though he's not there; I don't want to gawk at where he died. Yet I do read all of his letters. But I feel uncomfortable referring to him as "John".

Go figure.

I don't condemn anyone who appreciated their visit to the museum. We all commune in our own ways.

[Raphael]

Re: the Keats - Shelley Museum - I'm conflicted in my "interactions" with Keats. On one hand, I want to know everything about him. On the other, out of respect, I feel like I should know and see only those things he'd want someone to see. Since he didn't seem to want much of the outside world to enter his Rome apartment towards the end, I want to respect his privacy, even though he's not there; I don't want to gawk at where he died.

I know what you mean - I, too wouldn't want to "gawk" at where he passed away- that place was were he endured the most horrible suffering and I wouldn't want to be in that house or room. I know he was quite private but I don't feel uncomfortable reading his letters because I read them with respect and admiration for his brilliant mind and magical personality- he has taught me much. I am grateful to him for that. He inspires me. I think he would be pleased that 190 years on people are moved and inspired by his words and life. He wanted to be read and remembered. I think he knew this would happen after he had gone from this life- even re his letters to Miss B - he made a comment in one of his letters to her about them being published.

Yet I do read all of his letters. But I feel uncomfortable referring to him as "John". Go figure.

Really? Why? I don't like calling him Keats- using someone's surname feels impolite to me- where I am from people call you by your surname to insult you. I don't even like calling the composers like Ludvig Van Beethoven and Frederic Chopin by their surnames. It seems however people called each other by their surnames back in the early 1800's- it seems strange to me.

[keatsgrove]

But I feel uncomfortable referring to him as "John". Go figure.



Really? Why? I don't like calling him Keats- using someone's surname feels impolite to me- where I am from people call you by your surname to insult you. I don't even like calling the composers like Ludvig Van Beethoven and Frederic Chopin by their surnames. It seems however people called each other by their surnames back in the early 1800's- it seems strange to me.

I think it's as you mentioned, that in his time your first name was used by your close friends and family. There was that extra layer of formality. And with that extra layer - now we use last names when we're angry; back then they would use the last name with "Mr"! I wonder, if someone had a name like Andrew Jones, where the lines might be drawn between those who called him Jones, Andrew, and Andy.

[Ennis]

And a hearty welcome to keatsgrove, before I forget.

I like a hearty welcome! And I agree, everyone is interesting.

Re: the Keats - Shelley Museum - I'm conflicted in my "interactions" with Keats. On one hand, I want to know everything about him. On the other, out of respect, I feel like I should know and see only those things he'd want someone to see. Since he didn't seem to want much of the outside world to enter his Rome apartment towards the end, I want to respect his privacy, even though he's not there; I don't want to gawk at where he died. Yet I do read all of his letters. But I feel uncomfortable referring to him as "John".

Go figure.

I don't condemn anyone who appreciated their visit to the museum. We all commune in our own ways.

Hello, again, all my Keatsian friends. I, too, have not properly introduced myself, as well. My story is a lengthy and somewhat depressing one, so I'll save it for later. However, I would like to address the "gawk" sentiment. The summer of 2009, I was so fortunate enough to go to London (again); however, The House was still closed due to those much-needed repairs. My brother, my son, and I did travel to Rome. My son and his girlfriend-at-the-time went and did the whole Imperial ruins-architecture-Vatican thing while my brother and I did the #26 Piazza de Spagna and the Non-Protestant pilgrimage. To stand in that miniscule room and pay homage at that grave site is not to gawk. It is to honour the oh, so drastically cut short life of a vibrant, intelligent, generous, and sublimely creative young genius. It was a moment of reverence that I plan to do as many times as possible before I die (O, to be buried near where he lived. . . ). The feeling, the vibrations true Keatsians feel those moments in that little room and at that final resting place (with, by the way, wild strawberries, not daisies/violets "growing over all") in the corner of that beautiful cemetery is not gawking. Please, it is a reverence, a veneration, if you will.
If I can ever learn (or desire to learn) how to manuever my way around a computer, I'll print my photographs for those interested.

[keatsgrove]

I would feel like I was gawking. I was speaking for myself.

To make my position more clear using Keats' imagery: I most prefer to visit those places that he experienced while he was in his 'Chamber of Maiden Thought'. The initial chamber, as well as those dark doorways, are places that don't attract me.

I'll say it again: I don't condemn anyone who visits the Rome sites. We all commune in our own ways. We are all true Keatsians, in our own ways.

[Ennis]

I would feel like I was gawking. I was speaking for myself.

To make my position more clear using Keats' imagery: I most prefer to visit those places that he experienced while he was in his 'Chamber of Maiden Thought'. The initial chamber, as well as those dark doorways, are places that don't attract me.

I'll say it again: I don't condemn anyone who visits the Rome sites. We all commune in our own ways. We are all true Keatsians, in our own ways.

That we are!! And always will be. . . .