Illustration for “The Raven,” by Edgar Allen Poe, 1875

Giclee Print

Manet, Édouard


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Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore —
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door —
“‘Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door —
Only this and nothing more.”

You can go to this website, called Knowing Poe, to hear John Astin reciting Poe’s most famous poem, The Raven.

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted — nevermore!

May your Friday be filled with alliteration, assonance, and not one encounter with a demonic raven, rapping at your chamber door, that captures your soul to release it nevermore.

You can find the round-up of links for Poetry Friday at Big A little a.