Edgar+Allan+Poe

=Biography:= Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother had died before he was even three, and his father had left him at a young age. He was adopted by the Allan family after being separated from his siblings. He showed signs of being a writer from when he was little. Money was always a struggle between him and his adopted father; he attended the University of Virginia and tries to gamble enough funds to keep him in school, but he ended up in debt. His first book was published in 1827 called //Tamerlane and Other Poems//. He decided to join the army and even won a spot at West Point.Although he was successful in his studies, he was kicked out for poor handling of his duties. Since his father cut all ties with him, he left for his aunt's house and ended up falling in love with his cousin, Virginia, who was only around thirteen at the time. The couple married privately and then a couple years later they remarried for the public. His short stories began to gain public recognition from magazines and newspapers. He ended up directing //The Southern Literary Messenger// in 1836, which was only the first of several journals. He made himself known as not only an author of poetry and fiction, but also a literary critic. His writings began to really gain attention in the 1830s and 1840s, but still didn't contribute much profit. His beloved wife ended up dying a few days later, which led him to have many romanic affairs. After two years of living in grief and heartbreak, he died on October 7th. Poe is most remembered for his gothic style of writing, focusing on a horror and suspense genre. Many of his works are in first person narrative. His analytical method used in his critiques and creative works influenced world literature today. He created the term "heresy of the didactic", which is basically that a poem should have a meaning but tell it indirectly. He's also credited for inventing two genres: science fiction and the detective story. Years after his death, Poe became known one of America's most famous writers.

=Works:= Lo! Death has reared himself a throne In a strange city lying alone Far down within the dim West, Where the good and the bad and the worst and the best Have gone to their eternal rest. There shrines and palaces and towers (Time-eaten towers that tremble not!) Resemble nothing that is ours. Around, by lifting winds forgot, Resignedly beneath the sky The melancholy waters he.
 * The City in the Sea **

No rays from the holy heaven come down On the long night-time of that town; But light from out the lurid sea Streams up the turrets silently- Gleams up the pinnacles far and free- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Up domes- up spires- up kingly halls- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Up fanes- up Babylon-like walls- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Up shadowy long-forgotten bowers <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Of sculptured ivy and stone flowers- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Up many and many a marvellous shrine <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Whose wreathed friezes intertwine <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">The viol, the violet, and the vine. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Resignedly beneath the sky <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">The melancholy waters lie. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">So blend the turrets and shadows there <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">That all seem pendulous in air, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">While from a proud tower in the town <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Death looks gigantically down.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">There open fanes and gaping graves <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Yawn level with the luminous waves; <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">But not the riches there that lie <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">In each idol's diamond eye- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Not the gaily-jewelled dead <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Tempt the waters from their bed; <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">For no ripples curl, alas! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Along that wilderness of glass- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">No swellings tell that winds may be <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Upon some far-off happier sea- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">No heavings hint that winds have been <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">On seas less hideously serene.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">But lo, a stir is in the air! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">The wave- there is a movement there! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">As if the towers had thrust aside, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">In slightly sinking, the dull tide- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">As if their tops had feebly given <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">A void within the filmy Heaven. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">The waves have now a redder glow- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">The hours are breathing faint and low- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">And when, amid no earthly moans, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Down, down that town shall settle hence, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Hell, rising from a thousand thrones, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Shall do it reverence.

A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado.
 * Eldorado **

But he grew old— This knight so bold— And o’er his heart a shadow— Fell as he found No spot of ground That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength Failed him at length, He met a pilgrim shadow— ‘Shadow,’ said he, ‘Where can it be— This land of Eldorado?’

=Fairy-Land= ‘Over the Mountains Of the Moon, Down the Valley of the Shadow, Ride, boldly ride,’ The shade replied,— ‘If you seek for Eldorado!’

Dim vales—and shadowy floods— And cloudy-looking woods, Whose forms we can’t discover For the tears that drip all over: Huge moons there wax and wane— Again—again—again— Every moment of the night— Forever changing places— And they put out the star-light With the breath from their pale faces. About twelve by the moon-dial, One more filmy than the rest (A kind which, upon trial, They have found to be the best) Comes down—still down—and down With its centre on the crown Of a mountain’s eminence, While its wide circumference In easy drapery falls Over hamlets, over halls, Wherever they may be— O’er the strange woods—o’er the sea— Over spirits on the wing— Over every drowsy thing— And buries them up quite In a labyrinth of light— And then, how, deep! —O, deep, Is the passion of their sleep. In the morning they arise, And their moony covering Is soaring in the skies, With the tempests as they toss, Like—almost any thing— Or a yellow Albatross. They use that moon no more For the same end as before, Videlicet, a tent— Which I think extravagant: Its atomies, however, Into a shower dissever, Of which those butterflies Of Earth, who seek the skies, And so come down again (Never-contented things!) Have brought a specimen Upon their quivering wings.

The ring is on my hand, And the wreath is on my brow; Satin and jewels grand Are all at my command, And I am happy now.
 * The Bridal Ballad **

And my lord he loves me well; But, when first he breathed his vow, I felt my bosom swell- For the words rang as a knell, And the voice seemed his who fell In the battle down the dell, And who is happy now.

But he spoke to re-assure me, And he kissed my pallid brow, While a reverie came o'er me, And to the church-yard bore me, And I sighed to him before me, Thinking him dead D'Elormie, "Oh, I am happy now!"

And thus the words were spoken, And this the plighted vow, And, though my faith be broken, And, though my heart be broken, Here is a ring, as token That I am happy now!

Would God I could awaken! For I dream I know not how! And my soul is sorely shaken Lest an evil step be taken,- Lest the dead who is forsaken May not be happy now. =

= =Why?= I was first introduced to Edgar Allan Poe when I was a little kid, probably around five or so. My parents used to have massive Halloween parties, and my mom would tell scary stories to all the children. One of the stories she would tell was actually "The Tell-Tale Heart". I remember how much I loved the story, and I used to tell all my friends it when they wanted me to. A few years later I had realized that it was actually Edgar Allan Poe's story. I later became familiar with "The Raven" which sent me into his dark style. I adore Poe's style of writing. I love gothic writing, and I am obsessed with the darker and twisted side of stories. I love fairytales, but what I love even is more are //Grimm's Fairytales// and other versions that are dark. Although I get scared easily, I am a huge horror movie fan. I also think dark is beautiful. Black is my favorite color and I often write my own dark poems that some people find sad or disturbing. I love reading sad or even depressing poetry. I usually don't like poems if they are happy. I usually like it to have some type of emotion that identifies with sadness. I like it when poems make me cry or make me have goosebumps. Most of the music I listen to is also dark as well. Sometimes I'll listen to playlists titled "Two Hours of Dark Music" or "Dark Lullabys". Anything with a fantasy/spooky/eerie vibe becomes my addiction. I think I can identify with some of the things Poe writes about like how i'm fascinated by death, and I love that death is often personified in his poems. I do best when I hear a poem instead of reading it. Sometimes I'll read a poem and go "Eh", but then Ill hear a reading on youtube and fall in love. Sadly, I can't find any excellent ones for Poe's poems. However, I did fine a version of the City in the Sea which was calming. I like everything in life with a little side of spooky and dark, and I'm pretty sure Edgar Allan Poe felt the same way. I'm usually able to find beautiful lines in his poem, and I agree that he was a very talented writer. Two words to describe his writing: Darkly beautiful. :)

Sources: http://www.biography.com/people/edgar-allan-poe-9443160#mysterious-death http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edgar-allan-poe