In Memory of John Keats (1795 – 1821)

If time must all accounts settle And with all mortals seek requital How should the earthly heaven afford When in time death’s train all board?

Though born of an earthly lot To what does man the Gods a lot? Should we to heavenly aims aspire To drink from the heavenly fire?

Then should man make the stars whisper

With a heavenly earthly vesper As the light in the skies reflect

The boy with the temples laurel decked.

David Gosselin is a poet, translator, and linguist based in Montreal. He is the founder of The Chained Muse poetry website and the founder of the New Lyre Podcast.