The Raven -->Poem<-- The Raven

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 someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-

                                                Only this and nothing more."

        Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow- vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore-

For the rare and radiand maiden whom the angels name Lenore-

                                                    Nameless here forevermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood reapeating,

"Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-

                                            That it is and nothing more."

     Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

             "Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

       But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

       And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you" - here I opened wide the door-

                                                 Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into te darkness peering, long I stood there wandering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word "Lenore?"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word "Lenore?"

                                                     Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

"Surely," said I, " surely that is something at my window lattice;

Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore-

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore-

                                      Tis the wind and nothing more."