John Keats is one of the greatest romantic poets of all time. He was born in London on October 31st, 1795. Right from his birth he was sickly. Tragedy dogged him.

His father, a stableman, was killed in an accident when Keats was just eight-years-old. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was 14. One of his brothers, Tom, also died of tuberculosis. Keats himself died of the dreaded disease at the age of 26.

Apart from his wonderful poetry Keats also wrote appealing letters. He was a prolific correspondent, writing to his family and a wide circle of friends. He also met poets of the time. To his ill luck his work was being attacked by critics. However Keats who knew his worth  did not take their remarks seriously.

Keats fell in love with a young girl named Fanny, the daughter of a lady named Mrs Brawne who rented the same house he was staying in. They were engaged. He started sending letters to Fanny. In one of his letters he wrote, “Every hour I am more and more concentrated in you. I wish to believe in immortality and I wish to live with you forever”.

Doomed love
By the autumn of 1820, Keats was suffering from advanced tuberculosis. He knew that he was doomed. Doctors advised him to move to a milder climate. His friend P B Shelly, another great English poet, invited Keats to Italy. He decided to accept the offer even though parting from Fanny was very painful.

On September 17, 1820, Keats sailed from England accompanied by an artist friend, Joseph Severn. The voyage was long and stormy. On December 10, 1820, Keats suffered a massive lung haemorrhage. The doctors kept him on a starvation diet. His friend Severn did what he could to cheer him up. He played the piano to console him.

Severn took great care of Keats— he cooked, cleaned and comforted him but Keats continued to sink. He was in great pain and filled with grief. He knew he would never see the sweet face of Fanny again. He wrote to Brown, another friend, ‘I can bear to die, I cannot bear to leave Fanny’.

Keats continued to suffer until late on February 23, 1821. In the end Keats is believed to have said, “Severn, Severn, lift me up, I am dying. I shall die easy, don’t be frightened, be firm and thank God, it has come”. On saying these words Keats died in the arms of Severn.

Three days later he was buried in a Protestant cemetery. As per his wishes, his name was not written on his tombstone. Instead his tomb reads— “Here lies one whose name was writ on water”. Keats thought himself a failure and expected to be forgotten after his death.