Ode to a Nightingale

Before I am going to discuss about the aesthetic beauty of the poem ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, I must confess the fact that I am pretty much amazed by the talent of John Keats. He died at an early age; when he was only twenty five he passed away. But in his very short life span, the imagination power that he had acquired was no way a common factor. In the poem ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, his literary ability is widely proved and with that it shows his imagination that helped him draw such blissful scenario through words.

The poem begins with the note that Keats is completely imbued with the sweet melodious voice of nightingale bird. He then confessed that he is not envied by the talent and sweet voice of the bird, he rather feels drowsy and travels to a different world with the nightingale while listing her song.

It is indeed a heart touching verse that takes us too to a different world while reading the poem. He thereafter, expressed his desire to go under the influence of alcohol as it may enable him to fly with the bird to the world of imagination. In each line his own desires and mind-set are well depicted through the lucid words and expressions that he has employed in the poem.

He believes the nightingale is unaware of the pain and complexities of mortal life, which is the reality for Keats. The poet wishes to have a wing so that he too could fly with the bird and embark upon a journey to the unknown world. In the next line it reflects the turmoil and grief of life that John Keats were facing and his realization to gradually grow old and lose everything eventually that he had as a young, boy made him feel restless within.

The poet then poured out his believes in his words that he feels the melodious voice of nightingale is immortal and it has been heard for centuries. Before him many ancient king savor the beautiful voice of the bird as he was enjoying it at the very moment. He also feels in future too this blissful song of nightingale shall be heard by many.

The poem quite explicitly depicts the perpetual thoughts that were going back and forth in his mind. The uneasy state of mind of Keats is well comprehensible through his expressions in the poem. It also reflects the conflict that was going on in his mind about the reality and a world of his imagination. Unable to live his life upon his own terms Keats perhaps opted to take help of his imagination to reflect his thoughts in his writing.

In the last stanza the poet gradually came back to the world of reality and the dwell that has been going on in his mind for so long, too has come to the state of reality. He could understand it quite well that for so long what was going on in his mind was nothing but an illustration which doesn’t have any connection with reality. The poem is an epitomize of a real class where based on a common aspect the poet drew such a beautiful scenario that makes the reader feel rejuvenated.