Poetry Alive

John Keats was a romantic poet of the early nineteenth century. He was, perhaps, even more "romantic" than the other three giants of the era: Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Shelley. This poem really embodies the exuberance and feeling that is present in all of his best work. It speaks of his wonder after reading the first complete English translation of Homer, by George Chapman. Chapman's version, from around the time of Shakespeare, had long been replaced by the more polished versions of Dryden and Pope; but Chapman's "vigorous and earthy paraphrase"* often does a better job of capturing the feeling of the original Greek. Much have I travelled in the realms of gold, And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; Round many western islands have I been Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. Oft of one wide expanse had I been told That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne; Yet did I never breathe its pure serene Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: Then felt I like some watcher of the skies When a new pla