"I cannot breathe without you"

Most love letters, I'm sure, are kept private, tucked away in a corner of the closet or in the top drawer of a dresser, maybe hidden between the pages of a favorite book. But for those who are famous in our societies, lover letters do not always remain private. So, as the general public reads letters that were once meant for one set of eyes alone, it can seem as if we're somewhere we shouldn't be, overhearing a conversation we weren't meant to hear.

But, so many love letters written by the famous, the infamous and the not-so-famous are so eloquently written that we feel privileged to have the opportunity to read them.

For example, British poet John Keats, who lived from 1795 until 1821, wrote many letters, some of which were published in the mid-1800s, after his death. Keats was in love with Fanny Brawne, and this love letter he wrote to her is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of such ever written.

My dearest Girl,
This moment I have set myself to copy some verses out fair. I cannot proceed with any degree of content. I must write you a line or two and see if that will assist in dismissing you from my Mind for ever so short a time. Upon my Soul I can think of nothing else. The time is passed when I had power to advise and warn you against the unpromising morning of my Life. My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you. I am forgetful of everything but seeing you again — my Life seems to stop there — I see no further. You have absorb’d me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving. I should be exquisitely miserable without the hope of soon seeing you. I should be afraid to separate myself far from you. My sweet Fanny, will your heart never change? My love, will it? I have no limit now to my love. Your note came in just here. I cannot be happier away from you. ‘Tis richer than an Argosy of Pearles. Do not threat me even in jest. I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion — I have shuddered at it. I shudder no more — I could be martyr’d for my Religion — Love is my religion — I could die for that. I could die for you. My Creed is Love and you are its only tenet. You have ravish’d me away by a Power I cannot resist; and yet I could resist till I saw you; and even since I have seen you I have endeavoured often “to reason against the reasons of my Love.” I can do that no more — the pain would be too great. My love is selfish. I cannot breathe without you.
Yours for ever
John Keats

Oh, what a way with words he had!