Why does Keats feel that the poetry of earth is never dead?

In ‘The Poetry of Earth’ Keats tries to bring out the infinite and eternal quality of nature. The march of seasons brings an end to human life and activities, yet the poetry of the earth never ceases. It is immortal and sets forth itself through the myriad life forms. Hence, the song that celebrates a vibrant nature never ceases. The birds, the grasshopper and the cricket take the charge by turns to ensure that the poetry is never dead. In the end, the chirping of the grasshopper and the cricket merge into one and become the immortal poetry of the earth. The poet actually establishes the fact that it does not matter whether the season is pleasant or morose, nature continues to spread its beauty. The poet thus conveys that, though the seasons come and go and human activities come to a halt, ‘the poetry of earth’ goes on. It is a continuous and never-ending process that keeps on inspiring poets and artists.

What pictures of the two seasons does Keats draw in ‘The Poetry of Earth? How are the two pictures related?

John Keats, the passionate lover of nature presents two different seasonal pictures of Mother Nature. In summer, on a scorching day, the blazing rays of the sun threaten to drain out all energy. The birds stop singing their delightful songs and seek refuge in the cool shade under the leafy boughs of the trees. At this hour a little grasshopper takes the lead’. The luxurious summer heat does not deter his merriment. His voice sounds from ‘hedge to hedge’ and sometimes when a little breathless he rests beneath ‘some pleasant weed’, and resumes singing again with renewed vigour. In the sestet, winter arrives with an icy cold touch,

imposing a death-like silence on the surrounding landscape. All creatures seek the shelter of their own homes. Even then, breaking the painful silence comes the cricket’s shrill notes from somewhere near the stove. His joyous song becomes louder every moment as the radiant heat from the stove warms the room. To someone who is half asleep, the sound reminds of the song of the grasshopper and the beautiful and bright days of summer.

These two pictures of two different seasons are closely related. The poet reiterates his belief in the continuity of the cycle of seasons-what the grasshopper starts in summer is carried on by the cricket throughout the long winter till the grasshopper takes over again. In this manner, nature continues the cyclic order of seasons with her very own minstrels taking upon themselves the responsibility of keeping alive the poetry of earth.