The Washington times., 1920-01-23
Some Poems Worth Reading
No. Keats, Ode "On Grecian Urn"


readers.
editor The Washington Times:
81 always read The Times editorials and am
always interested and frequently helped by them
You sometimes write about books, but you almost
write about poetry. Couldn't you sometime
print something about the really good poetry and
perhaps reproduce poems that everybody
ought to read? for one would appreciate It,
"MRS M. l.. g."
Taste in poetry much like the way people like their
eggs There is good deal of variation.
Some prefer their poetry soft. They think no poem
ID good unless it is sentimental
Others want hard boiled poetry almost impossible to
digest, like Brownngs, for instance.
Some prefer scrambled and Others after the man
of the Chinese like their poetry and eggs to be old
1t will be hard to suit all tastes, but we shall try it.
Perhaps if you will send your favorte verses, it
may be a source of help
Swinburne the great English poet who himself wrote
of the musical of said that the most per-
feet poem in English the achievement Of the utmost
beauty possible of human words' of two poems
written by John Keats either the ode ION Grecian Urn
the ode "To Autumn
An urn in the garden of the Holland House in London
is pointed the inspiration for Keats great poem but
since the depicted it's sides do not at all agree with
those described in the poem probable that any
particular in his mind it in the British
Museum.
Keats who died when he twenty-six, gave little
promise in his first published volume issued when he
twentyone of being anything than very ordinary
rhymester
He was the son of stable keeper who having aspira
0nS for h children to enjoy privileges denied to him. had
mapped out surgeon for his eldest
But the scalpel did not appeal and making the
quaintance of Leigh Hunt and Shelley, both poes he
decided to devote himself to
The failure of his first book did not discourage him. and
in the year he finished his second volume, CEN
dymion." This given little warmer but not very
encouraging reception by the critics But his third book
which followed about two years LATER hailed the
work of poet and he although already stricken with
tuberculosis able to enjoy temporarily the fruits Of
his genius
desperate love affair resulted in his writing series
of maudn letters, which, being published We'd with his
verses in public interest.
The lines of the ode constitute creed to which
it is worth while giving thought
In the opening line of "Endymion'' he said "A thing
of beauty is a joy forever" Here he says:
"'Beanty is truth, truth beauty'-that is all
Ye know earth, and all ye need to know"
Hardly true 1t may be all poet needs to know but
with other information to depend ordinary ndvid
uals would have hard work keeping up with the present
ascending cost of boots and butter.
However poets have ideas of their ow and their work
in the world is to raise minds above the commonplace
If you like this poem, read his other odes and read
Sheleys odes ''To Skylark' and "To the West Wind"
A For fol
unravishd bride of quiet All hroathi.u , ~ .
i" slow time " ~ ~ That a heart high sorrow
Sylvan thus fu and cloyd
A burning and parch-
A sweely than '
Who to