The Poe Museum Blog

The Lake In youth's spring, it was my lotTo haunt of the wide earth a spotThe which I could not love the less;So lovely was the lonelinessOf a wild lake, with black rock bound.And the tall pines that tower’d around.But when the night had thrown her pallUpon that spot — as upon all,And the wind would pass me byIn its stilly melody,My infant spirit would awakeTo the terror of the lone lake.Yet that terror was not fright —But a tremulous delight,And a feeling undefin’d,Springing from a darken’d mind.Death was in that poison’d waveAnd in its gulf a fitting graveFor him who thence could solace ...

Israfel I.  In Heaven a spirit doth dwellWhose heart-strings are a lute —None sing so wild —   so wellAs the angel Israfel —And the giddy stars are mute. II. Tottering aboveIn her highest noonThe enamoured moonBlushes with love —While, to listen, the red levinPauses in Heaven. III. And they say (the starry choirAnd all the listening things)That Israfeli's fireIs owing to that lyreWith those unusual strings. IV. But the Heavens that angel trodWhere deep thoughts are a duty —Where Love is a grown god —Where Houri glances are ——— Stay! turn thine eyes afar! —Imbued with ...

Impromptu To Kate Carol When from your gems of thought I turnTo those pure orbs, your heart to learn,I scarce know which to prize most high —The bright i-dea, or the bright dear-eye. Edgar Allan Poe Originally Published in 1845 ...

Imitation A dark unfathom’d tideOf interminable pride —A mystery, and a dream,Should my early life seem;I say that dream was fraughtWith a wild, and waking thoughtOf beings that have been,Which my spirit hath not seen.Had I let them pass me by,With a dreaming eye!Let none of earth inheritThat vision of my spirit;Those thoughts I would control,As a spell upon his soul:For that bright hope at lastAnd that light time have past,And my worldly rest hath goneWith a sigh as it pass’d on,I care not tho’ it perishWith a thought I then did cherish. Edgar Allan Poe Originally Published in 1827 ...