Poe, E.
Near a Raven
Midnights so dreary, tired and weary.
Silently pondering volumes extolling all by-now
obsolete lore.
During my rather long nap - the weirdest tap!
An ominous vibrating sound disturbing my
chamber's antedoor.
"This", I whispered
quietly, "I ignore".
Perfectly, the intellect remembers: the ghostly fires, a
glittering ember.
Inflamed by lightning's outbursts, windows cast
penumbras upon this floor.
Sorrowful, as one mistreated, unhappy thoughts I heeded:
That inimitable lesson in elegance - Lenore -
Is delighting,
exciting...nevermore.
Ominously, curtains parted (my serenity outsmarted),
And fear overcame my being - the fear of
"forevermore".
Fearful foreboding abided, selfish sentiment confided,
As I said, "Methinks mysterious traveler
knocks afore.
A man is visiting, of age
threescore."
Taking little time, briskly addressing something:
"Sir," (robustly)
"Tell what source originates clamorous
noise afore?
Disturbing sleep unkindly, is it you a-tapping, so slyly?
Why, devil incarnate!--" Here completely
unveiled I my antedoor--
Just darkness, I ascertained -
nothing more.
While surrounded by darkness then, I persevered to clearly
comprehend.
I perceived the weirdest dream...of everlasting
"nevermores".
Quite, quite, quick nocturnal doubts fled - such relief! - as
my intellect said,
(Desiring, imagining still) that perchance the
apparition was uttering a whispered "Lenore".
This only, as evermore.
Silently, I reinforced, remaining anxious, quite scared,
afraid,
While intrusive tap did then come thrice - O,
so stronger than sounded afore.
"Surely" (said silently) "it was the banging,
clanging window lattice."
Glancing out, I quaked, upset by horrors
hereinbefore,
Perceiving: a
"nevermore".
Completely disturbed, I said, "Utter, please, what
prevails ahead.
Repose, relief, cessation, or but more dreary
'nevermores'?"
The bird intruded thence - O, irritation ever since! -
Then sat on Pallas' pallid bust, watching me (I
sat not, therefore),
And stated
"nevermores".
Bemused by raven's dissonance, my soul exclaimed, "I
seek intelligence;
Explain thy purpose, or soon cease intoning
forlorn 'nevermores'!"
"Nevermores", winged corvus proclaimed - thusly was a raven named?
Actually maintain a surname, upon Pluvious
seashore?
I heard an oppressive
"nevermore".
My sentiments extremely pained, to perceive an utterance
so plain,
Most interested, mystified, a meaning I hoped
for.
"Surely," said the raven's watcher, "separate
discourse is wiser.
Therefore, liberation I'll obtain, retreating
heretofore -
Eliminating all the 'nevermores'".
Still, the detestable raven just remained, unmoving, on
sculptured bust.
Always saying "never" (by a red
chamber's door).
A poor, tender heartache maven - a sorrowful bird - a raven!
O, I wished thoroughly, forthwith, that he'd
fly heretofore.
Still sitting, he recited
"nevermores".
The raven's dirge induced alarm - "nevermore"
quite wearisome.
I meditated: "Might its utterances
summarize of a calamity before?"
O, a sadness was manifest - a sorrowful cry of unrest;
"O," I thought sincerely, "it's
a melancholy great - furthermore,
Removing doubt, this explains
'nevermores' ".
Seizing just that moment to sit - closely, carefully,
advancing beside it,
Sinking down, intrigued, where velvet cushion
lay afore.
A creature, midnight-black, watched there - it studied my
soul, unawares.
Wherefore, explanations my insight entreated
for.
Silently, I pondered the
"nevermores".
"Disentangle, nefarious bird! Disengage - I am
disturbed!"
Intently its eye burned, raising the cry within
my core.
"That delectable Lenore - whose velvet pillow this was,
heretofore,
Departed thence, unsettling my consciousness
therefore.
She's returning - that maiden -
aye, nevermore."
Since, to me, that thought was madness, I renounced
continuing sadness.
Continuing on, I soundly, adamantly forswore:
"Wretch," (addressing blackbird only) "fly
swiftly - emancipate me!"
"Respite, respite, detestable raven - and
discharge me, I implore!"
A ghostly answer of:
"nevermore".
"'Tis a prophet? Wraith? Strange devil? Or the
ultimate evil?"
"Answer, tempter-sent creature!", I
inquired, like before.
"Forlorn, though firmly undaunted, with 'nevermores'
quite indoctrinated,
Is everything depressing, generating great
sorrow evermore?
I am subdued!", I then
swore.
In answer, the raven turned - relentless distress it
spurned.
"Comfort, surcease, quiet, silence!"
- pleaded I for.
"Will my (abusive raven!) sorrows persist unabated?
Nevermore Lenore respondeth?", adamantly I
encored.
The appeal was ignored.
"O, satanic inferno's denizen -- go!", I said
boldly, standing then.
"Take henceforth loathsome
"nevermores" - O, to an ugly Plutonian shore!
Let nary one expression, O bird, remain still here, replacing
mirth.
Promptly leave and retreat!", I resolutely
swore.
Blackbird's riposte: "nevermore".
So he sitteth, observing always, perching ominously on
these doorways.
Squatting on the stony bust so untroubled, O
therefore.
Suffering stark raven's conversings, so I am condemned,
subserving,
To a nightmare cursed, containing miseries
galore.
Thus henceforth, I'll rise (from
a darkness, a grave) -- nevermore!