This inscription upon Keats' tombstone, proclaiming that "Here lies one whose name was writ in water," is a poignant reminder of human mortality and fragility. He requested that this be inscribed instead of his name, believing that his existence would be forgotten after he passed. However, the fact that the rest was added posthumously proves, along with his global readership, that the individual can still live on even after their body expires. The form this aspect of the individual takes differs depending on the period, but for poets, their words are the most important, being manifestations of their consciousness that transcend death.
Anderson, Sonja. “John Keats’ Rome.” Romeing, 6 Aug. 2021, www.romeing.it/john-keats-rome/.
“The Gravestone of John Keats: Romancing the Stone - Wordsworth Trust.” Wordsworth Trust, 16 Apr. 2018, wordsworth.org.uk/blog/2018/04/16/the-gravestone-of-john-keats-romancing-the-stone/.