Imagery of Ode to a Grecian Urn

The author John Keats uses imagery in his poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn” to tell readers that no one can escape mortality. The images on the urn tells us that story starting with: “A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme;”(4). He explains the images on the urn as if they are stand still and silent. Everything would stay young, a lover would be forever held at a pose to never finish her actions “She cannot fade, though, thou hast not thy bliss,” (19). The trees are unable to go through the seasons “Ah,happy,happy boughs! That cannot shed / Your leaves, nor ever bid the spring adieu;”( 21), they will never lose their leaves like a real live tree. The images of the small vacant town is what shifts the story to reality as they explain that once gone you can never come back “And, little town, thy streets for everymore / Will silent be… can e’er return."(38) . Immortality is only for the urn not for people “When old age shall the generation waste, / Thou shalt remain...”(46). The author is clever at using all the imagery to let people know that no one can be immortal.