A TRIBUTE to Winchester's most famous poem will be staged next Wednesday.
John Keats was inspired to write Ode to Autumn on a visit to the city nearly 200 years ago.
As a prelude to Winchester’s poetry festival this autumn, two Keats specialists are giving a summer performance exploring his legacy in the city where his ode was composed.
Dismissed as a Cockney poet in his short lifetime, Keats doubted whether his name would last. With a fond look at whatever happened to Johnny Keats to save his name from obscurity, the poets Julia Bird and Mike Sims share their love of his life through readings of his poems and letters.
The lunchtime performance, titled 'A Joy Forever', takes place in St Lawrence Church in The Square, just a few hundred yards from where Keats lodged in Colebrook Street during his two-month visit in 1819.
The performance is on Wednesday at 12.30pm at 12.30pm.
Tickets: £6, available online at http://www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/#!a-joy-forever/p41bz