Nevermore

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many     quaint     curious volume of forgotten lore--
        nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came     tapping,
As     some one gently rapping,     at my chamber door.
'Tis     visiter,'     muttered, '                   --
Only this     nothing more.'


   , distinctly     remember it was in the bleak December;
    each separate dying ember wrought its ghost         floor.
Eagerly     wished     morrow;--vainly     had sought to borrow
From     books surcease     sorrow--    for     lost Lenore--
        rare     radiant maiden whom     angels name    --
Nameless here     evermore.


        silken, sad, uncertain rustling         purple curtain
Thrilled me--filled     with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now,     still     beating         heart,     stood repeating
'            entreating entrance                --
    late                            ;--
        is            .'


Presently     soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
'Sir,' said    , 'or Madam, truly your forgiveness     implore;
But     fact                ,             you        ,
        faintly            ,                    ,
        scarce     sure     heard    '--        opened wide        ;
Darkness                .


Deep into         peering, long             wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams     mortal ever dared     dream    ;
        silence     unbroken,         stillness gave     token,
            word     spoken         whispered    , '   !'
           ,     an echo murmured back         '   !'
Merely                .


                turning, all         within     burning,
Soon again                 somewhat louder than    .
'Surely,'        , '            something         window lattice;
Let     see,    , what thereat    ,         mystery explore--
            be         moment                ;--
'        wind            !'


Open         flung     shutter, when,             flirt     flutter
        stepped     stately Raven         saintly days     yore.
Not     least obeisance made he;         minute stopped     stayed    ;
   ,     mien     lord     lady, perched above            --
            bust     Pallas just                --
   ,     sat,            .


        ebony bird beguiling         fancy     smiling,
By     grave     stern decorum         countenance     wore,
'Though thy crest     shorn     shaven, thou,'        , 'art         craven,
Ghastly grim     ancient     wandering         Nightly shore--
Tell             lordly         on     Night's Plutonian    !'
Quoth         '   .'


Much     marvelled     ungainly fowl     hear discourse     plainly,
        answer little meaning--    relevancy bore;
    we cannot help agreeing         living human being
    yet     blessed     seeing         his        --
        beast         sculptured                    ,
    such         '   .'


           , sitting lonely         placid    , spoke    
           ,     if                             did outpour.
    farther         uttered--        feather         fluttered--
Till     scarcely             'Other friends have flown    --
                will leave    ,         hopes            .'
                '   .'


Startled             broken     reply     aptly    ,
'Doubtless,'        , '        utters              stock     store
Caught         unhappy master     unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast         faster         songs     burden    --
        dirges         Hope     melancholy        
    '   --   .'


                                       ,
Straight     wheeled     cushioned seat     front                        ;
   ,         velvet sinking,     betook myself     linking
    unto    , thinking         ominous            --
           ,    ,    , gaunt,                    
Meant     croaking '   .'


            engaged     guessing,         syllable expressing
            whose fiery eyes     burned         bosom's core;
                    divining,         head     ease reclining
        cushion's  lining         lamp-light gloated o'er,
         violet                 gloating    ,
She shall press, ah,    !


   , methought,     air     denser, perfumed         unseen censer
Swung     Seraphim     foot-falls tinkled         tufted    .
'Wretch,'     cried, '    God hath lent thee--    these             sent    
Respite--        nepenthe         memories        ;
Quaff, oh         kind         forget            !'
            '   .'


'Prophet!'        , 'thing     evil!        ,             devil!--
Whether Tempter    ,         tempest tossed         ashore,
Desolate         undaunted,         desert land enchanted--
        home     Horror haunted--           ,        --
       --        balm     Gilead?--       --       ,        !'
            '   .'


'   !'        , '           !--       ,                !
        Heaven     bends     us--                both adore
                    laden    ,         distant Aidenn,
        clasp     sainted                        --
                                           .'
            '   .'


'            our sign     parting,         fiend!'     shrieked, upstarting--
'Get                                        !
        black plume                     lie                !
        loneliness    !--quit                    !
Take     beak     out        ,             form     off        !'
            '   .'


           ,     flitting,            ,            
        pallid                                ;
                        seeming         demon's            ,
                him streaming throws     shadow            ;
                                lies floating            
        lifted--nevermore!