John Keats Writes His Poem, on a Lock of Miltons Hair

The poem “On a Lock of Milton’s Hair” was written by the English Romantic poet John Keats in 1818.

This short but poignant poem reflects Keats’s admiration for the great English poet John Milton. It was composed after Keats came into possession of a lock of Milton’s hair, a treasured relic of the renowned author of “Paradise Lost.”

The poem expresses Keats’s reverence for Milton’s literary legacy and the idea that even a small, tangible connection to such a renowned figure can be a source of inspiration and veneration. Keats, who himself would go on to become one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic era, was deeply influenced by earlier literary figures, including Milton, and his poetry often pays homage to these influences.

“On a Lock of Milton’s Hair” is a testament to Keats’s ability to capture his admiration for the great poets who came before him and to express the profound impact they had on his own poetic sensibilities.