The Raven and The Alchemist

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I studied weak and weary,
Over many a queer and horrendous forgotten lore,
While I read on, nearly sleeping, suddenly there came a knocking,
Of someone rapping, rapping on my bedroom door.
"It is some visitor," I murmured, "knocking on my bedroom door-
Only this and nothing more."

Ah yes, precisely I remember it was in the grim November,
And each separate dying flame showed its shadow upon the floor.
Desperately I seeked the morn;- for I had tired of trying to mourn
The lost soul that I felt sorrow- sorrow for the lost Alphonse-
For the dear wonderful brother I used to call Alphonse-
Nameless here for evermore.

And the cold, chilling breeze that rustled the trees outside,
That thrilled me- filled me with horrors I had never felt before.
So now I stood, hearing the beating of my heart, I said repeating
"It is some visitor pleading entrance through my bedroom door-
Some late night visitor pleading entrance at my bedroom door;-
This is it and nothing more."

Slowly, my will grew stronger, holding back no longer,
"Sir," I called, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I must conjure;
But the truth was I was sleeping, and so gently you came tapping,
And so faintly you came rapping, rapping on my bedroom door,
That I was unsure I heard you,' here I opened wide the door;-
Blackness there, and nothing more.

Far into the darkness peering, long I stood there scared, fearing
Not believing, dreaming dreams no mortal has ever dreamed before;
But the silence was broken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word heard was the whispered word, 'Alphonse!'
This word I whispered, bringing tears to my eyes, 'Alphonse!'
Merely this and nothing more.

Back in to the bedroom turning, all the soul inside me chilling,
I soon heard a tapping somewhat louder then before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely there is something on my window knocking;
Let me see then, what it must be, and this mystery explore -
Let me still a heartbeat and this mystery explore; -
'It is the wind and nothing more!'

Terrified I flung the shutter, then, with a many flap and flutter,
“In came a dignified raven of the glorious days of yore.
Not a moment of hesitation gave he, not a moment stopped or stayed he;
But, with manner of colonel or general, perched above my bedroom door-
Perched upon the books right above my chamber door-
Perched, and stayed, and nothing more.

Then this onyx bird brought my sad face into smiling,
By the grim and serious presence it showed,
'I thank you for your presence here,' I said 'Strangely, it makes me warm
Ghastly grave and ancient raven coming in from the nightly shore-
Tell me your lordly name so I may call you this for ever more!'
Quote the raven, 'Nevermore.'

Much I wondered this graceless bird to hear talk so plainly,
Though its answer had little meaning- little revelense bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Was ever blessed with seeing this bird above his bedroom door-
Bird or beast above the books above his bedroom door,
With such a name as ‘Nevermore.’

But the raven, sitting alone on those alchemy books, spoke only
That one word, as if he put his whole soul into that little phrase.
Not a single word he uttered- not a feather did he flutter-
Then I barely more than muttered ‘Other friends have flown before-
In the morn he will leave me, as others have before.’
Then the bird spoke. ‘Nevermore.’

Startled at the silence broken by his reply so quickly spoken,
‘Doubtless,’ I sigh, ‘what it says is only heard and said,
Repeated from some sad master whom unmerciful disaster,
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore –
Till he finally gave up his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of “Never-nevermore.”

Still the raven helped my sad soul into smiling,
I pulled a seat in front of bird and books and door;
Then, upon the cushion sinking, I started thinking
From what the raven said, what this ominous bird of old-
What this grim, stern, ghastly, ominous bird of old
Meant in saying ‘Nevermore.’

This I sat forever guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the bird whose fiery eyes now bored into my soul’s core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the chair’s velvet lining and the lamp-light slowly dimming
But whose velvet lining with the lamp-light slowly dimming
He shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then I felt the air grow denser, scented from an unseen censer
My eyes grew wide with terrifying terror, and memories of old rushed upon me.
‘Wretch,’ I snarled, ‘Your God has sent you- by whatever powers, he has sent you
Respite- respite and nepenthe from my memories of Alphonse!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Alphonse!’
Quote the raven, ‘Nevermore.’

Prophet!' yelled I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether someone sent, or someone tossed you here,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home that horrors haunted- tell me- tell me, I demand!’
Quote the raven, ‘Nevermore.’

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
‘Get back to your temptest and the darkness’s evil shore!
Leave my loneliness untouched! - leave the books above my door!
Take your beak out from my heart; take your form from my door!’
Quote the raven, ‘Nevermore.’

The raven, never moving, is still sitting, is still sitting
On the alchemy books above my bedroom door;
His eyes have all the hellish look of that of a demon,
The lamp-light over him shining throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from that very shadow lies floating on the floor
Shall it be lifted- nevermore!





Not bad, huh? I know I have a few of Edger’s lines from the poem in here, I really tried to come up with my own lines but that’s not easy when you using Poe’s writings. Anyhow, read it, review it, and enjoy it!