Shut your eyes when listening. It makes Chris's recitation even more compelling! The breathlessness in his voice at the beginning of the 15th verse...so powerful and moving. What a masterpiece!
I just spent an hour listening to all these videos doing this poem: this one is by far the best. I am a Vincent Price Fan and Walken blew him out of the water! That there are no visual effects was a wise choice Poe's face and Walken's voice is well enough for this poem. Poe really was insane.
I just spent that hour but I haven’t listened the Vincent Price, Yet. Love this one, Walken’s reading pays tribute to the verses at this present time; i mean Timeless poem read nowadays and still gothic as 1800’s years.
My favorite poem, ever since I was such a young little girl! I couldn't imagine it being read any bit improved. Christopher Walken, please live forever
An excellent rendition. Christopher Walken breathes the life of suspense into a masterful classic long forgotten by modern horror. A piece that is often overlooked nowadays is here made ready to chill you to the bone. :)
I grew up in the Bronx very near where his home was. He was a legend and I having grown up in the Bronx can understand how he must have heard sounds at that time that made him think and write such amazing works.. Thank you Edgar Allen Poe!
Great Audio. Even though this is really eerie piece by Edgar Allen Poe, this is the one that always brings me to tears. Absolute sorrow in the heaviest fashion.
They picked the right guy to recite this classic poem by Edgar Allan Poe! Actor Christopher Walken has got to be one of the most eccentric & creepiest people out there! Plus,the way he talks...imitated by many comedians! A very good read!
Then this wretched bird beguiling Gene's sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern impression of the words he loudly swore, "Fever have I, Mister Frenkle", louder hits Gene tried to sprinkle Ghastly grim and ancient Raven tearing out the music's core - Tell me what thy problem here is with our music's dynamite store!" Quoth the Raven, "Cowbell: More."
The Raven may very well be my favourite poem. I never fail to read it every Halloween. This is a really great reading. Walkenis perfect for this. Normally I would shy away from background sounds but I think they add to this reading. Very well done over all.
I used to have this audio on the home PC back when I was a child. When they were still a little on the big and bulky side. It was the first reading of the poem I had heard (in memory) and I thought the guitars were awesome. That computer no longer exists and I love the extra sound effects now over the guitar. I also like the way Christopher Walken reads this. Like he's really feeling it, a little instead of just reading a poem.
I LOVE this!!!! Two of my favorites! Would that they could meet! Anyway, I think Walken's voice is distinct, but he is SO GOOD, who cares???? Toward the end, he put me in mind of Christopher Lee. Fantastic!
This is a really good poem. Don’t know why but this poem. I’ve always liked Christopher Walken has the perfect voice for reading this poem not quite sure if adding the guitar was a good thing or a bad thing so that’s neither here nor there having the guitar added on Did not bother me 8:52
Chris is so talented. His voice alone would have painted such a fantastic picture... the sound effects were, to me, distracting. Nonetheless, I quite enjoyed it! 10/20/2023
I found this some years ago, impressed. I have looked at various other versions over the years and I think their use of graphics is over the top, distracting from the words. Well done, mate - best version ever.
This is one of Hal Willner's masterpieces. He produced, arranged and directed this Edgar Allen Poe spoken word recording made in 1996 at St. Ann's Church in the lower east side of Manhattan. Michael Minzer Executive Producer, available on Paris Records in Dallas, TX. Over 20 publicly known artists of all kinds each read one poem of EAP to sound effects and musical accompaniment. To all those who were whining about the guitar work, pretty sure it was Bill Frisell. Hal was a huge Poe fan. He did not live long enough to see his work appreciated. He died from Covid in 2020. R.I.P. Hal, love ya be seeing ya.......Shivo, 2025
Leonard Smith I think it's just a mad jumble of weird ass noises, which adds to the descent into insanity of the narrator, I understand how it seems pointless and dumb to some, but I love it! to me this is a story of madness and not sadness which is the way that most try to show it off as through the music, though apparantly there is a more dramatic music version of walken's reading, so hooray now both people are happy
The Raven By Edgar Allen Poe Published on January 29, 1847 [Stanza 1] Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.' [Stanza 2] Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore - Nameless here for evermore. [Stanza 3] And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating `'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door - Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; - This it is, and nothing more,' [Stanza 4] Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, `Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; - Darkness there, and nothing more. [Stanza 5] Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!' This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!' Merely this and nothing more. [Stanza 6] Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. `Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore - Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; - 'Tis the wind and nothing more!' [Stanza 7] Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door - Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more. [Stanza 8] Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven. Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 9] Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door - Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as `Nevermore.' [Stanza 10] But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only, That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered - Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before - On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.' Then the bird said, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 11] Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, `Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store, Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore - Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore Of "Never-nevermore."' [Stanza 12] But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore - What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking `Nevermore.' [Stanza 13] This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore! [Stanza 14] Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. `Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore! Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 15] `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! - Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted - On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore - Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 16] `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore - Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore - Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels name Lenore?' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 17] `Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting - `Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' [Stanza 18] And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted - nevermore!
![Chris Langan - The Interview THEY Didn't Want You To See - CTMU [Full Version; Timestamps]](/img/n.gif)
Shut your eyes when listening. It makes Chris's recitation even more compelling! The breathlessness in his voice at the beginning of the 15th verse...so powerful and moving. What a masterpiece!
I love Poe and Christopher Walken...
Christopher Walken gives the story such life, such MEANING!! I rarely ever find such emotion in a poem!!
In other words, I LOVE THIS!!! XD
I don't think i have ever ben so creeped about this poem then i have until i heard this version. Well done...
I just spent an hour listening to all these videos doing this poem: this one is by far the best.
I am a Vincent Price Fan and Walken blew him out of the water!
That there are no visual effects was a wise choice Poe's face and Walken's voice is well enough for this poem. Poe really was insane.
I just spent that hour but I haven’t listened the Vincent Price, Yet. Love this one, Walken’s reading pays tribute to the verses at this present time; i mean Timeless poem read nowadays and still gothic as 1800’s years.
Tis a fine line between genius and insanity...
He really conveys that the narrator is descending line by line into madness. Beautiful.
Quoth the raven, cowbell more
+William Dixon - The world needs more of this kind of brilliance.
😂😂😂
"Quoth the Raven" (SQUAWWWK! Squaaaawk!), Ne- (guitar groan) ver- (fake wind sound) more (queasy siren-like extraneous racket)
Yas
Walken + Poe = Awesomeness
My favorite poem, ever since I was such a young little girl! I couldn't imagine it being read any bit improved. Christopher Walken, please live forever
An excellent rendition. Christopher Walken breathes the life of suspense into a masterful classic long forgotten by modern horror. A piece that is often overlooked nowadays is here made ready to chill you to the bone. :)
2:55 whoever decided to add the guitar deserves a kick in the nuts
But his guitar-playing while he's nut-kicked should be in the recording
I grew up in the Bronx very near where his home was. He was a legend and I having grown up in the Bronx can understand how he must have heard sounds at that time that made him think and write such amazing works.. Thank you Edgar Allen Poe!
Christopher Walken is amazing! his voice is the best
Best reading of The Raven I ever heard! The expression is just right and not flat or overbearing
Loooooove this :) really appreciate the picture zooming too, simple and effective. All time favorite.
This is literally perfect, if you put it into the computer there be no mistakes to be found. Surely one of the greatest writers of all time.
Haha, the part where he says "Allan, Allan! I know it's Allan" Reminds me of those talking animals. The groundhog that keeps yelling "Allan, Allan!"
Great Audio. Even though this is really eerie piece by Edgar Allen Poe, this is the one that always brings me to tears. Absolute sorrow in the heaviest fashion.
They picked the right guy to recite this classic poem by Edgar Allan Poe! Actor Christopher Walken has got to be one of the most eccentric & creepiest people out there!
Plus,the way he talks...imitated by many comedians! A very good read!
I love Poe, I love the raven and I love Christopher Walken this is perfect interpretation of the poem
I have listed to other readings but this is the BEST
My all-time favorite writer narrated by one of my all-time favorite voices.
poetry is so much more awesome when its being read to you through headphones, especially something so gothic as the raven
Christopher Walken could read a Dr. Seuss book and make it epic! I love this, thanks for posting!
Then this wretched bird beguiling Gene's sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern impression of the words he loudly swore,
"Fever have I, Mister Frenkle", louder hits Gene tried to sprinkle
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven tearing out the music's core -
Tell me what thy problem here is with our music's dynamite store!"
Quoth the Raven, "Cowbell: More."
+jacobbrashears you deserve the internet.
+jacobbrashears BLOODY BRILLIANT!!
+jacobbrashears You win comments.
LOL you sir are genius
Holy s#*t. I nearly died laughing.
I so enjoy christopher Walken! My uncle had that poem memorized and used to quit it for us. What chill! What a thrill!
the narrator should stop talking...
...and start walken
Google wont let me curse F0ck Gaygle I didn't know what to expect upon clicking "Show more", but I didn't expect that. Cracked me up. Good job.
This is an awesome reading. Christopher Walken does it so well.
Heard this on satellite radio during Halloween time.... Very cool.
I have always loved Vincent Price's version of this reading, but I just cam across this, and I love it. Walken rules the roost!!!
Ha...that's so Raven.
The Raven may very well be my favourite poem. I never fail to read it every Halloween. This is a really great reading. Walkenis perfect for this. Normally I would shy away from background sounds but I think they add to this reading. Very well done over all.
"Quoth the raven 'Eat My Shorts!'" "Baaaarrrtt ! " xD
This whole album is amazing. One of my favorite pieces in my Poe collection.
He's got the perfect voice for this poem. Would have been perfect without the guitar, though. 😕
More cowbell though?
I agree. The guitar did not add to it.
He's got the best voice for everything
I think it adds atmosphere myself. Otherwise it's Walken reading a thing. That's cool and all but...not that unique. This is unique tho.
@@robertminnis3244 🤭🤭
I pass Poe's grave often over the corse of my week. I will allways love his wrightings. This is the best reading of the Reven I have ever heard.
"Tapping at my chamber doh-err" I love Walken's voice!
One of the best recitations I've heard so far. I love Poe's Raven.
All hail Christopher Walken
Beautifully read by Christopher Walken. He has a voice fitting for reading Poe's works.
Christopher walken scares the shit out of me
he's only an actor, politicians scare the shit out of me!
da E Correction: They're all actors. Some are just more shit at acting than others and have more power, but they're acting.
I love Christopher's voice. this is a keeper!! =)
Walken and Poe
The Shit
I love this poem, all time fave!!!
Ugh. Not a fan of the loud background effects....
I used to have this audio on the home PC back when I was a child. When they were still a little on the big and bulky side. It was the first reading of the poem I had heard (in memory) and I thought the guitars were awesome. That computer no longer exists and I love the extra sound effects now over the guitar. I also like the way Christopher Walken reads this. Like he's really feeling it, a little instead of just reading a poem.
It actually is him. I thought it might be an impersonator or something.
Wicked! I love Poe and Walken, no one has read it better.
edgers not my name anymore.......call me nightpain
conformist
EquinoxzHD poser
elspic latino
i just wana drink coffeeey
Call me....... VELVET THUNDER
This is too freakin' perfect... wtf... why didn't I think of looking for this before.. It makes so much sense for some reason..
It's 2019.... can someone remove the guitar and reupload, then link it here please!?!
Like if agree!!
I LOVE this!!!! Two of my favorites! Would that they could meet! Anyway, I think Walken's voice is distinct, but he is SO GOOD, who cares???? Toward the end, he put me in mind of Christopher Lee. Fantastic!
Poor old Poe. He had a ton of shit to cope with in his life.
this voice is so amazing love it. for my eng III class, i'm writing a remake for the raven and this is completely getting me in the mood.
That electric guitar really ruins the whole thing. Totally uncalled for.
The pure disgust I felt when I heard that was most similar to dying.
It grew on me
this audio was probably recorded in the 80s or early 90s lol
I agree, it should not have been used without cowbell.
***** RADICAL!
Excellent Recitation.
Willem Dafoe might be good at this.
I love Poe, I love The Raven and I love Christopher Walken! What a great amalgam!
7.8/10 Too much guitar riff, not enough cowbell.
WAHAHAHA!!! good one
LOOOOOLLLLL
This is a really good poem. Don’t know why but this poem. I’ve always liked Christopher Walken has the perfect voice for reading this poem not quite sure if adding the guitar was a good thing or a bad thing so that’s neither here nor there having the guitar added on Did not bother me 8:52
I love the way he reads this, but I just wish it were available without the stupid music and sound effects.
A-fuckin-men brother.
No one sane feels the same
Chris is so talented. His voice alone would have painted such a fantastic picture... the sound effects were, to me, distracting.
Nonetheless, I quite enjoyed it!
10/20/2023
Christopher Walken’s voice always makes me laugh, so despite the fact that I love this poem, I can’t help but chuckle.
Brilliant! Better than the readings by Christopher Lee and Vincent Price. Love the background sounds, including the subtle electric guitar. :)
Enjoyed the reading without visual distraction. well done thank you
Quoth the Raven "Never...more cow bell!"
I agree with you, dear Lady.
This poem, read by Christopher walken, is a rare treat!
Scooch closer children, don't make me tell you again about the scooching
lmao.....read it and got it....
We have to recite one verse of this poem by memory today! Im gonna ace it! This poem is so fun to listen to
It needs more cow bells
+sandro ilpelato EPIC…LMAO!
@Hjfhcnfnc Jdjddj I think I'll keep it here until 2040
i learned this whole poem by memory for my english class. still know it. its nice to say"oh i know a poem thats 18 stanzas long!"
Anybody here just cause you didnt feel like reading it yourself?
you know it
i just want to learn it so i can recite it from the top of my head one day... why ? just because i feel like it
Nope, I'm an English Major who has read this poem about five hundred times. My professor suggested listening to this reading.
This is my marching band theme next year. I love it.
Does Christopher Walken scare the cr*p out of himself ?
Hahahahahahaha excellent--and "The Raven" is my all-time favorite poem!!
the only better reading is the great Vincent Price.
I found this some years ago, impressed. I have looked at various other versions over the years and I think their use of graphics is over the top, distracting from the words. Well done, mate - best version ever.
#2spooky
This is one of Hal Willner's masterpieces. He produced, arranged and directed this Edgar Allen Poe spoken word recording made in 1996 at St. Ann's Church in the lower east side of Manhattan. Michael Minzer Executive Producer, available on Paris Records in Dallas, TX. Over 20 publicly known artists of all kinds each read one poem of EAP to sound effects and musical accompaniment. To all those who were whining about the guitar work, pretty sure it was Bill Frisell. Hal was a huge Poe fan. He did not live long enough to see his work appreciated. He died from Covid in 2020. R.I.P. Hal, love ya be seeing ya.......Shivo, 2025
The crappy background is pointless
Leonard Smith I think it's just a mad jumble of weird ass noises, which adds to the descent into insanity of the narrator, I understand how it seems pointless and dumb to some, but I love it! to me this is a story of madness and not sadness which is the way that most try to show it off as through the music, though apparantly there is a more dramatic music version of walken's reading, so hooray now both people are happy
this actually played in my class a few years back, i couldnt believe my ears. nor can i believe i found it on youtube.
I'mma let you finish but HP Lovecraft had the best book ever this year.
The epic word play between the two youtubers in the comments. Simply amazing
Morgan freeman should read this
yasssss!!!!
I'm on it
James Earl Jones did a great job on the Simpsons Treehouse of Terror
"Dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before"...man, Poe was awesome. It's unreal what that man did with the English language.
Someone please remove that stupid guitar.....
Thanks for posting this. It's the version I like the most.
Would be better if Morgan Freeman read it...
This is my favorite poem. Poe was a freakin' genius.
I love the dark mystery of Poe. Seems he was indeed in touch with his "plutonian shore."
Still the best of the readings I've heard. Sir Christopher Lee's may be more powerful at times, but Walken's urgency takes the cake.
This is one of the best and most powerful Poems ever written!
Bravo vista mualt siou snorhs this means best poetry I've ever heard in Italian and Christopher really captured Poes brilliance
Without a doubt the very finest top comment I ever did see. I can't applaud you enough.
I love Walken's voice more than any other humans.
This to be one of the most awesome things I've ever heard. Christopher Walken reading Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven...yeah...that just happened...
Poe has an amazing way of putting words in a rhythmic form.
You said it best, very succinct and well put
i love how he says napping.
Oh, this is eerie - Walken could never tell a bedtime story to children without scaring the crap out of them!
The Raven
By Edgar Allen Poe
Published on January 29, 1847
[Stanza 1]
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'
[Stanza 2]
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.
[Stanza 3]
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'
[Stanza 4]
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.
[Stanza 5]
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.
[Stanza 6]
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'
[Stanza 7]
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
[Stanza 8]
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
[Stanza 9]
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'
[Stanza 10]
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'
[Stanza 11]
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'
[Stanza 12]
But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'
[Stanza 13]
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
[Stanza 14]
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
[Stanza 15]
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
[Stanza 16]
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels name Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
[Stanza 17]
`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
[Stanza 18]
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!