Tuesday, November 1, 2011

A thing of beauty

I don't know why but today I am recalling John Keats' poem "A thing of beauty."Keats called a thing of beauty eternal. He said that its something which gives you happiness.
Happiness? True. Eternal? I am not sure.
Everything in this world is susceptible to change. The loveliest flower would die within a day or two. A cute kid would maybe grow up into a hard core metal fan(No offence to the metal fans but I think they may look rebellious but not beautiful). A sky full of stars has to turn into a cloudy or a scorching day within a 24 hour cycle. Even beautiful feelings like adoration and love which can also instill happiness in an onlooker gradually wane with time and then dies with the person.
Then I get the idea that probably Keats was talking about the 'ideal' thing of beauty which may not exist. But unlike 'ideal love' to which we may approach, ideal thing of beauty may just be a myth.
Thus comes my final realisation.
Do we really need a true thing of beauty? I mean look at an undisturbed lake or falling drops of rain and yeah some may like to see a metallic band playing, whatever. The point is these things may not instill a happiness that is eternal but certainly they are so many around to stay happy for a lifetime. Even the odes Keats wrote, neither is the song of nightingale eternal, nor is any autumn. But they gave him a feeling that took him to a world away from all his pain and suffering though not indefinitely.(People who have read Keats and about him may understand better)So final conclusion - find your things of beauty and escape to a world of your own design.

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