Nevermore Will Raven Return

*Note: A 60-year annual tradition that involved a mysterious visitor leaving three roses at the grave of writer Edgar Allan Poe on the anniversary of his birthday ended in January 2010. Curators of the Poe House and Museum are at a loss to explain who left these gifts and why they stopped. On many occasions people kept vigils near Poe’s grave during this period that began in 1949, but no one ever saw someone leaving the roses. In the morning, however, they were always on his grave. Poe is considered the father of the American short story and his poem The Raven is one of his best known works. Once upon a midnight dreary, Poe heard a tapping at his window While grieving the loss of his young bride, a maiden “angels named Lenore,” A radiant teen whose long, black hair in gentle breezes would billow, Tapping at the window ceased, but suddenly it was heard at his door Upon opening it, a Raven flew in repeating, “Nevermore” At first he welcomed this odd visitor until Poe whispered, “Lenore” When he heard his word echo, the strange Raven he began to abhor He asked if he’d see his bride again and the bird replied, “Nevermore” Though Poe died in eighteen forty-nine, a mystery evolved much later A century after his death, his grave had an annual visitor Roses were left on his birthday by someone whose love appeared greater Who had left these floral gifts forever stumped the Poe House curator Perhaps the answer can only be explained by reincarnation Did the Raven embody the spirit of Poe’s beloved Lenore If so, perhaps the Raven returned again in a life rotation In human form she visited to lay roses on the earthen floor And upon her death in two-thousand nine, she took to the skies once more A Raven who now joins the flock circling above her late husband’s grave \/ Could it be her spirit remains with Poe, as it did in life before \/ \/ \/ Bringing him in the afterlife all the roses a poet could crave \/ \/ \/ \/ For those who consider this possibility totally absurd Just consider the fantasies Poe created with the written word By Carolyn Devonshire Contest Title: “Among the Dead,” sponsored by Constance LaFrance ~ A Rambling Poet ~