If Poetry comes not as naturally as the leaves to a tree, it had better not come at all.
In plain words
If writing does not come as naturally as leaves to a tree, leave it alone.
Where these words come from
- 85% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- Letter to John Taylor, 27 February 1818, one of Keats's poetic 'axioms.' Standard quotation drops the letter's leading 'That'; full original reads 'That if Poetry comes not...'
- Letter to John Taylor
