Keats' Love Letter

My dearest Lady,

…Ask yourself my love whether you are very cruel to have so entrammelled me, so destroyed my freedom.

Will you confess this in the Letter you must write immediately and do all you can to console me in it — make it rich as a draught of poppies to intoxicate me — write the softest words and kiss them that I may at least touch my lips where yours have been.

For myself I know not how to express my devotion to so fair a form: I want a brighter word than bright, a fairer word than fair. I almost wish we were butterflies and liv’d but three summer day — three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.

But however selfish I may feel, I am sure I could never act selfishly: as I told you a day or two before I left Hampstead, I will never return to London if my Fate does not turn up Pam or at least a Court. Though I could centre my Happiness in you I cannot expect to engross your heart so entirely — indeed if I thought you felt as much for me as I do for you at this moment I do not think I could restrain myself from seeing you again tomorrow for the delight of one embrace.

But no — I must live upon hope and Chance. In case of the worst that can happen, I shall still love you — but what hatred I shall have for another!

Letter to Fanny Brawne from John Keats

Parting Love

Felt just like yesterday
Living life without a care
Passing notes in the hallway
Meeting you was simply answered prayer

I fell in love with you like they do in old school
Saw you walk through the door and I just knew
Eyes forever searching truth
It was in the way you stared through my very heart
That's when I knew I loved you

Kites rise and fall with the wind
Feels like I let the symphony of death win
Running shoes tied, the pavement doesn't cry
It's easier to face than to look you in the eye

I fell in love with you but broke the golden rule
Saw you walk out the door and I just knew
Eyes forever sought the truth
It was in the way you saw through my every thought
That's how I knew I loved you

Cello plays, while the bow glides in melodious haze
And these tears they'll fall for eternity's days
A swell in chord, a heave and sigh
Holding back, we say good-bye

Now you're gone and our orchestra is done
What started so beautiful ended so young
And though my selfishness bleeds through
It's simply because I still love you


"I love you the more in that I believe you had liked me for my own sake and for nothing else."
-John Keats