My favourite poem

I studied English Literature at university and my favourite poets were always the Romantics. I loved the natural imagery and structure of the works they wrote. I fell in love with John Keats and to this day, he remains my favourite poet. The following is my favourite one of his poems. It speaks to me in ways I cannot describe.


One of the reasons I loved English Literature is because I got to think about death and what it means, how I cope, how others would cope. The one thing about my death that would bother me the most would be how the people I left behind would handle it. My sisters hate the hymn Amazing Grace because of its funeral associations. I sometimes think that instead of that, I'd rather someone would read this out at my funeral. It's a beautiful poem - the structure is exquisite and the imagery reminds me of the fleetingness of time and how death although sad is something everyone is faced with at some time in their lives.