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could scarcely be distinguished from them by the once happy little damsel
who went to seek her pet with an arch and rosy smile on her face。 Consider
the great variety of truthful and delicate thought in the few lines we
have quotedthe _wonder _of the little maiden at the fleetness of her
favorite…the 〃little silver feet〃the fawn challenging his mistress to a
race with 〃a pretty skipping grace；〃 running on before； and then； with
head turned back； awaiting her approach only to fly from it again…can we
not distinctly perceive all these things？ How exceedingly vigorous； too；
is the line；
〃And trod as if on the four winds！〃
A vigor apparent only when we keep in mind the artless character of the
speaker and the four feet of the favorite； one for each wind。 Then
consider the garden of 〃my own；〃 so overgrown； entangled with roses and
lilies； as to be 〃a little wilderness〃the fawn loving to be there； and
there 〃only〃the maiden seeking it 〃where it _should _lie〃and not being
able to distinguish it from the flowers until 〃itself would rise〃the
lying among the lilies 〃like a bank of lilies〃the loving to 〃fill itself
with roses；〃
〃And its pure virgin limbs to fold
In whitest sheets of lilies cold；〃
and these things being its 〃chief〃 delights…and then the pre…eminent
beauty and naturalness of the concluding lines； whose very hyperbole only
renders them more true to nature when we consider the innocence； the
artlessness； the enthusiasm； the passionate girl； and more passionate
admiration of the bereaved child
〃Had it lived long； it would have been Lilies without； roses within。〃
* 〃Book of Gems；〃 Edited by S。 C。 Hall
~~~~~~ End of Texr ~~~~~~
POEMS
TO
THE NOBLEST OF HER SEX
THE AUTHOR OF
〃THE DRAMA OF EXILE〃
TO
MISS ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING
OF ENGLAND
_I DEDICATE THIS VOLUME_
WITH THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC ADMIRATION AND WITH
THE MOST SINCERE ESTEEM
1845 E。A。P。
PREFACE
THESE trifles are collected and republished chiefly with a view to their
redemption from the many improvements to which they have been subjected
while going at random the 〃rounds of the press。〃 I am naturally anxious
that what I have written should circulate as I wrote it； if it circulate
at all。 In defence of my own taste； nevertheless； it is incumbent upon me
to say that I think nothing in this volume of much value to the public； or
very creditable to myself。 Events not to be controlled have prevented me
from making； at any time； any serious effort in what； under happier
circumstances； would have been the field of my choice。 With me poetry has
been not a purpose； but a passion； and the passions should be held in
reverence： they must not…they can not at will be excited； with an eye to
the paltry compensations； or the more paltry commendations； of man…kind。
E。 A。 P。
1845
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 some one gently rapping； rapping at my chamber door。
〃'Tis some visiter；〃 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 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 darkness 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 I heard again 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 an instant 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 all my sad soul 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。〃
This 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 lamplght gloated o'er；
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er；
_She_ shall press； ah； nevermore！
Then； methought； the air grew denser； perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Angels whose faint foot…falls tinkled on the tufted floor。
〃Wretch；〃 I cried； 〃thy God hath lent thee by these angels he hath sent
thee
Respite respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore；
Quaff； oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore！〃
Quoth the raven； 〃Nevermore。〃
〃Prophet！〃 said I； 〃thing of evil！ prophet still； if bird or devil！
Whether Tempter sent； or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore；
Desolate yet all undaunted； on this desert land enchanted
On this home by Horror haunted tell me truly； I implore
Is there _is_ there balm in Gilead？ tell me tell me； I implore！〃
Quoth the raven； 〃Nevermore。〃
〃Prophet！〃 said I； 〃thing of evil prophet still； if bird or devil！
By that Heaven that bends above us by that God we both adore
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if； within the distant Aidenn；
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore。〃
Quoth the raven； 〃Nevermore。〃
〃Be that word our sign of parting； bird or fiend！〃 I shrieked； upstarting
〃Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore！
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