After Keats's death, Severn wanted to have made
a gold brooch in the shape of a lyre
with strands of John's hair for the strings.
In Oceania this doesn't amount to a thing.
The Hawaiian king stood resplendent
in his cape of feathers.
Ninety thousand birds were captured and killed
for their orange and yellow wings.
It took a century to complete, a century
for a man to become a bird.
Keats took a few minutes one afternoon
while writing a letter.
Still, there is no pin:
in all of Rome, Severn could not find a goldsmith
who could crimp the hair-strings in.

Joseph Severn - painter and friend of Keats - 1793-1879
portrait of Keats by Severn