Artists & Writers · 18th Century
John Keats’s Last Words
“I feel the flowers growing over me.”— John Keats, February 23, 1821
Who Was John Keats?
John Keats was an English Romantic poet who died of tuberculosis at 25. His odes including Ode to a Nightingale and Ode on a Grecian Urn are among the finest in the English language.
The Final Moments
Keats died in Rome where he had gone for the warmer climate. His gravestone reads: Here lies one whose name was writ in water.
Are These Words Verified?
Reported by Joseph Severn who nursed Keats in Rome, though exact wording varies in accounts. Severn's contemporary letters support this or similar sentiment about flowers.
Sources
- firsthand Joseph Severn letters and memoir
- biography William Sharp 'Life and Letters of Joseph Severn'
Legacy
Keats's poetry achieves a sensuous intensity rarely equaled. He was only 25 when he died.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were John Keats’s last words?
“I feel the flowers growing over me.”
How did John Keats die?
John Keats died on February 23, 1821 at the age of 25. Cause of death: Tuberculosis.
Were John Keats’s last words documented?
Reported by Joseph Severn who nursed Keats in Rome, though exact wording varies in accounts. Severn's contemporary letters support this or similar sentiment about flowers.
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