John Keats to Fanny Brawne

John Keats (October 31, 1795 - February 23, 1821) was one of the principal poets in the English Romantic movement. He led a short but brilliant life.

The story of John Keats and Fanny Brawne is one of literary tragedy. Keats produced such influential works as Ode on a Grecian Urn and the epic poem, Hyperion.

Keats met Fanny in November of 1818 and fell instantly in love with her, to the dismay of both her family and his contemporaries. The couple became secretly engaged soon after. However, in the winter of 1820 Keats became very ill. Tragically, doctors had already diagnosed the tuberculosis which would eventually kill him, so their marriage became an impossibility.

Keat's health progressively declined and in a final effort to save his own life, he moved to Italy. In 1821, at the age of 25, he was laid to rest. Buried with him, close to his heart, was an unopened letter from Fanny.

To Fanny Brawne:

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 were dissolving ....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.

- John Keats