This Living Hand - A poem by John Keats

John Keats - This Living Hand

This living hand, now warm and capable
Of earnest grasping, would, if it were cold
And in the icy silence of the tomb,
So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights
That thou wouldst wish thine own heart dry of blood
So in my veins red life might stream again,
And thou be conscience-calmed - see here it is -
I hold it towards you.

Added: on May 31st, 2006 at 6:04 AM | Viewed: 4019 times | Comments (9)

This Living Hand - Comments and Information
Poet: John Keats Poem: This Living Hand Poem of the Day on: Jun 21 2008 Comment 9 of 9, added on September 17th, 2009 at 10:00 PM. Actually, if it's any help, John Keats had been diagnosed with tuberculosis at the time of writing and had just witnessed his brother die from tuberculosis. Victor from United States Comment 8 of 9, added on December 27th, 2008 at 12:23 PM. i read this inj oxford, and my analysis was that he is holding a hand out for a girl to hold, and is telling her that if she doesn't take this opportunity to hold it now, she will feel guilty when he's dead. the professor seemed to like that at least. it comes across to me as rather bitter and darkly funny, in the way he describes the horror she will feel in the future in such detail and then simply states that he's holding his hand out to her now. matt from United Kingdom Comment 7 of 9, added on May 31st, 2006 at 6:04 AM. This is the poem which ends a recent biography of Jim Morrison (of the 60's group, The Doors). It is incredibly apt - how at the last moment 'this living hand' reaches right off the page towards the reader! Michael from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, This Living Hand, has received 9 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by John Keats with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
This Living Hand Last read: 2009-11-19 20:44:27 Poem of the Day on: Jun 21 2008 Viewed 4019 times. Added on May 31st, 2006 at 6:04 AM.

Keats Info
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