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to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for

the lost Lenore

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels

name Lenore

Nameless _here_ for evermore.

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

repeating

"Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber

door

Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber

door;

This 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 that darkness peering, long I stood there

wondering, 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!"

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt

and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days

of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped

or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my

chamber door

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber

door

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into

smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance

it wore,

"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou", I said,

"art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from

the Nightly shore

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's

Plutonian shore!"

Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse

so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy

bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human

being

Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his

chamber door

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his

chamber door,

With such name as "Nevermore."

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke

only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did

outpour.

Nothing farther then he uttered - not a feather then

he fluttered

Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends have

flown before

On the morrow _he_ will leave me, as my Hopes have

flown before."

Then the bird said "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly

spoken,

"Doubtless", said I, "what it utters is its only stock

and store

Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful

Disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one

burden bore

Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore

Of 'Never - nevermore.'"

But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into

smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird,

and bust and door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself

to linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird

of yore

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous

bird of yore

Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

Thus I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable

expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my

bosom's core;

This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease

reclining

On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light

gloated o'er,

But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light

gloating o'er,

_She_ shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from

an unseen censer

Swung by seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the

tufted floor.

"Wretch", I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these