Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats

The most famous poem in the English language? Well, it certainly stands on the 'sunlit uplands' of our literature. How such a young man was able to write such perfect verse is a mystery soluble only by the theory of the transmigration of souls.

I never forget how I first heard the great English actor Robert Donat (what a beautiful voice, even more mellifluous that Gielgud's famed dulcet tones!) reading this and other Keats' poems in recordings made more or less on his death bed. I can't hope to beat his performance, but I've done my best. The music is by Debussy. The last picture in the video is of Keats' grave.

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• Ode
• On
• A
• Grecian
• Urn
• John
• Keats
• Romantic
• English
• Poetry
• Claude
• Debussy
• Titian
• Charles
• Bryant

[Maria12thNight]

The right tone and voice timbre for this poem. Emphasis where emphasis is required. I know, all too well, how difficult it is to be accurate in one's reading of a poem, more often than not enthusiastic expressivety usurps the substance of the text. Thank you for your remarkable and subtle reading.

[brychar66]

Thanks Maria. There's a coincidence - have been reading 12th Night these last few days, a play I dearly love. So tender, playful and funny! I entirely agree with your wise opinion of poetry reading. Charles.

[uwdawgs20022002]

Great Job. I am trying to memorize this poem right now and your recitation has really helped me out. Cheers!

[brychar66]

:) good luck!

[gnikcohs]

A poem, can be extremely multiplex, existing in many, many forms (even conflicting) for different people. One has the right to say, 'I like it this way, (and no other)'; a legitimate personal response to a powerful object. The error is in believing one's response to have the same universality as the poem itself.

Keats might have read this poem in his old age, in just such a solemn and stately way.

Brychar66 understands the auditory potential of this poem and delivers on it.

[brychar66]

A fascinating comment. I agree with your first paragraph whole-heartedly: a profound and moving statement. And I am equally deeply touched by your second paragraph. You have made my day. My thanks, Charles.

[HorrorGuy67]

i have always been very fond of this poem ever since i first read it back in high school. Something about the fact that Keats was dying and how he began to look at things in such a way that we as a people tend to take for granted . And the idea that the story on the urn would and , indeed live on and continued even after death.

[arainaification]

heard music is sweet...unheard is sweeter...will anyone ever understand keats fully?

i doubt it he was just above any human understanding.

[ianskidmore]

@gnikcohs didn't have an old age,alas. great loss

[davyjsmith]

can anybody tell me what they think of this poem? I'm not really grasping what it is about.

[HAPPYTHELEAF]

Happy indeed the leaf, unable to predict the fall..

[HANNALIRA90]

actually the poem is my assignment so i had to read it( and listen to the correct pronunciation and diction). and i was well astonished that the poem was read, the speaker were as if the poet or the speaker himself. thanks for sharing this vid. people across the globe will definitely need this one.

[aledalgogu]

oye que buena onda maestro

[passionchris123]

very true! time is an essence in this poem...the persona talks about the immortalising the beauty in an object, but at the same time, the persona is distraught as the movements and activities are captured in that very moment that the objects and characters will be forever dead at the same time

[beggo321]

time is a major factor in this poem, everything on this urn will last for all eternity, the lovers will always be in the mad persuit of the women and the boughs of the tree will never be bare, the people who went to the sacrifice left their desolate town and will never return

[beggo321]

i think it means that things we imagine are sweeter than what we experience in reality