Poetry for Young People
Edgar Allan Poe
Edited by Brod Bagert
Illustrated by Carolynn Cobleigh
New York: Sterling Publishing Co.
1995
ISBN 0-8069-0820-3
Ages 9-12 & YA
This collection of poems by Edgar Allan Poe begins with a three and a half page summary of his life, which had its share of loss before Poe was three years old. But what could've begun the tragic life of an orphan at that point was not what happened to him. A well-to-do couple took Poe in and raised him as their own. They gave him a good education, although primarily through boarding schools, which also gave him the skills to write. Poe had the tendancy to lean toward the dark and melancholy side of life, though, from his college years on. This was evident in much of his writings later on. His birth father was an alcoholic, and Poe himself became one, too, as an adult. He racked up debts throughout his life, beginning in college, and his relationship with his foster father soured when his father would not keep bailing him out of his debts. To me, Poe comes across as greedy, irresponsible, and ungrateful in his young adult years towards his father. Poe died at age forty, his health destroyed by alcoholism. He was a brilliant writer, but weak in character, body, and destroyed by the choices he made.

Immediately following the mini-bio is a note to parents-- the parents of the children who are reading the book. I thought it may be for the purpose of alleviating some concerns they might have for seeing a collection of Poe's poetry published in a children's book, when it's usually considered dark and depressing. But the note was explaining how the last eight "poems" in the book were actually excerpts of prose works. There seemed to be more concern that parents might object to the editor's tinkering, as they say, with the work of a great writer. Many parents, I am sure, would never have known that the editor tinkered with anything, so maybe the note is actually intended for those poetry purists out there who may be quick to criticize. I think putting prose in the form of poetic verse is a great idea-- I've even done that with my own writing. I don't think Poe would've minded at all if it meant if his work was exposed to more people that way.

I do like how the book is organized. Each poem is introduced with a little summary of the story; and what's very helpful, too -- even for adults-- is a list of the more difficult words and their definitions at the bottom of each page. I used them quite a bit myself! Many of Poe's poems and prose use themes of death, loneliness, depression, madness, loss: Alone, Annabel Lee, The Lake, The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Black Cat; but the book also includes some poems with a romantic theme: To Helen, Eulalie-- A Song, To___ ____,and the love of a friend, For Annie. The Bells covers the gamut of life by comparing the different types of bells with the stages of life. It sounds very musical to read aloud.

The book is richly illustrated with full and partial page pictures. Some are as dark and gloomy as the poems themselves, but others are pleasant pictures of women-- especially the romantic poems. Annabel Lee  stands facing the ocean with the wind blowing her hair and clothes. I prefer looking at that illustration rather than the black cat , the skeleton, or the raven.

I tend to shy away from depressing writing, no matter who wrote it, and my feeble knowledge of Poe's poetry is limited to  The Raven and Annabel Lee. I had heard of The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendelum, and The Tell-Tale Heart, but unless they were assigned to me in school, I avoided them. But in reading this book of poetry for juveniles, I can appreciate his talent for writing without personally liking some of the subject matter in his work. From my years in college , I got the impression from art history and my art classes that to be a great artist (or writer), one had to have lived life self-centeredly and with a touch of madness. I decided if that's what it took to be a great artist or writer, I didn't want it. I'd rather live a happy, fulfilling life than delve into the darkness of my soul to write or paint something brilliant. I wonder if Poe realized he had a choice. He seemed more comfortable living and writing on the dark side of humanity.
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