Call me old fashioned...

Since it's Valentines Day, I thought it would be appropriate to research romantic poets and poems today. I went downstairs to the lower level of the library and found a book called Love Letters of Famous Poets and Novelists. There's a section that features love letters from the romantic poet, John Keats. As soon as I started reading these letters, I began to think about how much things have changed since the 1800's. No one writes love letters anymore. Instead, our society texts, emails or writes comments on Facebook walls which isn't half as romantic as a handwritten letter. What happened to sitting down with a pen in hand, pouring your heart and soul out on a piece of paper? Call me old fashioned, but there's something about a love letter that's much more romantic than a Facebook message.

Love Letters of Keats

To Fanny Brawne

My Dearest Lady,

I am so glad that I had not an opportunity of sending off a letter which I wrote for you on Tuesday night-'twas too much like one out of Rousseau's "Heloise." I am more reasonable this morning. The morning is the only proper time for me to write to a beautiful girl who I love so much: for at night, when the lonely day has closed, and the lonely, silent, unmusical Chamber is waiting to receive me as into a sepulcher, then believe me my passion gets entirely the sway, then I would not have you see those rhapsodies which I once thought it impossible I should ever give way to, and which I have often laughed at in another, for fear you should (think me) either too unhappy or perhaps a little mad....though I could centre my happiness in you, I cannot expect to engross your heart so entirely-indeed if I thought you felt as much for me as I do for you at this moment, I do not think I could restrain myself from seeing you again tomorrow for the delight of one embrace. But no-I must live upon hope and Chance. In case of the worst that can happen, I shall still love you-but what hatred shall I have for another!

Ever yours, my love.

John Keats