Fugitive Poems

by John Keats, Andrew Motion (Foreword)

Gleaned from the riches of Keats’ letters to his friends and relatives, these previously uncollected poems reveal a lesser-known aspect of the poet’s sensibility, showing him to be a witty and occasionally irreverent young writer. A verse letter full of “shapes, and shadows and remembrances;” a sonnet on a “craggy ocean-pyramid;” a “mysterious tale” of which the poet cannot speak— Fugitive Poems offers a precious insight into what manner of man John Keats really was and how he lived out his poetic life. The archetypal Romantic writer, John Keats is one of the greatest, most influential poets of the 19th century.

Genres: Poetry, Literature

104 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

Rich melodic works in classical imagery of British poet John Keats include " The Eve of Saint Agnes ," " Ode on a Grecian Urn ," and " To Autumn ," all in 1819.

Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley include "Adonais," an elegy of 1821 to John Keats.

Work of the principal of the Romantic movement of England received constant critical attacks from the periodicals of the day during his short life. He nevertheless posthumously immensely influenced poets, such as Alfred Tennyson. Elaborate word choice and sensual imagery characterize poetry, including a series of odes, masterpieces of Keats among the most popular poems in English literature. Most celebrated letters of Keats expound on his aesthetic theory of "negative capability."

Wikipedia page of the author

Reviews

[Anna Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to put four stars instead of five because I found the first third to half of this book so utterly boring. Thankfully, the rest of the poetry was stunning. This book definitely makes me want to read the rest of Keats' poetry.

"There is a joy in footing across a silent plain,
Where patriot battle has been fought when glory had the gain"

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am trying to broaden my genres and read more poetry. Going through Keats and his poetry was especially powerful. I really enjoyed La Belle Dame Sans Merci along with This Living Hand, Now Warm and Capable. Overall, they were all beautiful poems that were enlightening and showed Keats' unique craft and skill.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it! I haven't read a serious poetry anthology since High school which may color my unabashed endorsement, but this book was awesome! While most of his poems are romantic (Keats is a romantic, in most senses of the word) the light flair and the passing from line to line leaves the reader wanting more. Often I sense a drawn out, almost plodding, feeling when reading some romantics, but these poems flew. This edition is rather helpful with notes in the back clearing up some of the references lost on me and others in the 21st Century. If I had to point out a few poems, I would highlight:




To Lord Byron
O grant that like to Peter I
To a Yong Lady who Sent me a Laurel Crown
On seeing the Elgin Marbles
Nebuchadnezzar's dream
O thou, whose face hath felt the winters wind
A song about myself