BEAUTY IS LIKE SALVE FOR A LONGING HEART

John Keats

Although he died of tuberculosis at the age of 25 years, John Keats (1795-1821) is considered one of England's greatest poets. Not long before his death, he said, "...but I loved the principle of beauty in all things, ..."[1] And so he did. His poems are unequaled for their dignity and richness of imagery. 

Beauty is like salve for a longing heart. Throughout my three decades of chronic and incurable illness, the beauty found in art, literature and music have been constant companions in the solitude of what often seemed like perpetual convalescence. My heart longs for my eternal future with Christ. He created and defines beauty.

[Click on image below of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhtO7qx9qRQ for "Consolation" composer Viktor Kosenko. Pianist: Maria Dolnycky. 2:25]

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[1] Taken from an 1820 letter from John Keats to Fanny Brawne,