Tomorrow is the 189th anniversary of the death of John Keats, and to help commemorate the occasion, I will read from his works at the first Poetry on the Deck event at Riverbend Books alongside, some of Brisbane poetry’s Bright Stars – Bronwyn Lea, Pam Schindler, Betsy Turcot & Jonathan Hadwen.
One of the poems I will read tomorrow night is the epically beautiful, Bright Star! would I were steadfast as thou art. When Ben Whishaw recited this to Fanny in Jane Campion’s recent film, it was enough to send a shiver down the spine of this Lost Shark. The film is a glorious portrayal of Keats and Fanny Brawne’s relationship and their individual relationships with Charles Brown; so visually stunning, one viewing was not enough.
If you have not yet discovered Bright Star, here is a trailer and for those of you who cannot make it along tomorrow night, here is another of the poems – To Sleep – I will read.
Dead at 25, but still as vibrant as ever… it is a great rush of life that Campion’s film brings to the words of John Keats.
