John Keats…to me…is like my Cobain, or Hendrix…
…no..no.. that’s not right.
He’s a poet who died too young, that’s all i’m saying – and i often wonder what more would have come had he been able to live a “full” life. But Keats did not assist his own death in any way. In fact, it is known that he suffered through severe pain with no chemical relief, for some close to him were unsure how to regulate his use and perhaps afraid he would intentionally overdose…
so…i guess…there may be more connections than meet thee eye.
But still, if Keats had been able to choose to kill himself at 24 or 25, who could really blame him? He was suffering from what is now known as tuberculosis in tha early 1800′s. I have read on a few occasions that he was even “bled” to attempt to rid him of his sickness.
This was a man who could have lived much longer, and would have given today’s medicinal climate. All signs show he never received proven, beneficiary, medical attention. But in his short time here he sure made a name for himself….
Which brings me to my real point – “DEAD POETS SOCIETY”
God i love that movie… pretty much any movie with tha main character called “John Keating” is going to garner my attention. I remember watching this with tha poetry “club” during my college years. I was still finding myself. I loved tha movie, in my own personal space, but wasn’t ready to commit to something like that yet – i was still breaking tha mold I had been cast in.
Now that I am involved, very much so, with our own poet’s society, tha movie has become so poignant to me, again. There are so many great quotes from Robin Williams’ character (Keating). I will leave you with one or two of my favorites:
“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
oh, this is one is great, too
“…we are food for worms, lads. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold and die.”
mtp
(If) We are food for worms…
(than) excrement bellies
spit me out
(I have) indigestion from the mouth that runneth over
(the world has) solo and penniless opinions
(I am) sober
(of) philosophers
(and of)truth
(I have) the power not to speak and the power to speak uncouth
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(we are) the reason that people argue – not the reason that leaders fight
Better wrong than be white
and never carry visible words upon a page
(You have) Distracted eyes
Ears are the motive of an audible stage
(I remember when they were) Bound and Blinded to Sing
(those are humming birds, the) Strange Fruit hanging on trees
from roots that never sway in the breeze
(now we are silent) from needles that scratch words
Bleed Green on rap words
Forgive those who made “Nigga” a profit
denied those who ran naked with hushed feet and no pockets
when you are bled
Bulging eyes
Blue or Brown
When you are skinned from bone
When you are typhoid, bubonic and alone
Skinless they will consume you
Rue
‘Sour Herb of Grace’
‘Sucking the marrow out of life doesn’t mean choking on the bone’
You can die
But
I, am emesis nemesis of sin pleading for caution
anathema of death
Cur
(I am) flesh consumed and History doomed
with words unable to ‘turn cold and die’
JeanRae.July 2010
I hope I haven’t butchered the poem with the parenthetical inserts but i wanted the sense of being a student in Keat’s class. Movies like this remind me why our words are so sensitive; they outlive wars, people and pride. While we are alive we who choose to use our words for a revolution tend to be society’s villain. There was a time when silence was life and those people had to kill their words and run to live. Now, we degrade each other with words
We may be the dogs of life but spit us out. Something in us is too resilient for death. Keep writing. Live Bravely and carry a pen. JeanRae
P.S.
The original (un-butchered version) is on http://jeanrae.tumblr.com/post/759829520/we-are-food-for-worms.
You have butchered nothing !!! Only made everything greater by blessing us with your words. Love everything you do Rae, keep it coming!!!!!