Once
upon
a
dreary
,
while
I
pondered
,
weak
and
weary
,
Over
many
a
quaint
and
curious
volume
of
forgotten
lore
?
While
I
nodded
,
nearly
napping
,
suddenly
there
a
tapping
,
As
of
some
one
gently
rapping
,
rapping
at
my
chamber
door
.
"
'Tis
some
visitor
,
"
I
muttered
,
"
tapping
at
my
chamber
door
?
Only
this
and
nothing
more
.
"
Ah
,
distinctly
I
it
was
in
the
bleak
;
And
each
separate
dying
ember
wrought
its
ghost
upon
the
floor
.
Eagerly
I
wished
the
morrow
;
?
vainly
I
had
sought
to
borrow
From
my
surcease
of
sorrow
?
sorrow
for
the
lost
Lenore
?
For
the
rare
and
radiant
maiden
whom
the
angels
name
?
Nameless
here
for
evermore
.
And
the
silken
,
sad
,
uncertain
rustling
of
each
purple
curtain
Thrilled
me
?
filled
me
with
terrors
never
felt
before
;
So
that
now
,
to
still
the
beating
of
my
,
I
stood
repeating
"
'Tis
some
entreating
entrance
at
my
chamber
door
?
Some
late
visitor
entreating
entrance
at
my
chamber
;
?
This
it
is
and
nothing
more
.
"
Presently
my
soul
grew
;
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
"
?
I
opened
wide
the
door
;
?
there
and
nothing
more
.
Deep
into
that
darkness
peering
,
long
I
stood
there
wondering
,
fearing
,
Doubting
,
dreaming
no
mortal
ever
dared
to
dream
before
;
But
the
was
unbroken
,
and
the
stillness
gave
no
token
,
And
the
only
word
there
spoken
was
the
whispered
word
,
"
Lenore
?
"
This
I
whispered
,
and
an
echo
murmured
back
the
,
"
Lenore
!
"
?
Merely
this
and
nothing
more
.
Back
into
the
chamber
turning
,
all
my
soul
within
me
burning
,
Soon
I
heard
a
tapping
somewhat
louder
than
before
.
"
Surely
,
"
said
I
,
"
surely
that
at
my
window
lattice
;
Let
me
see
,
then
,
what
thereat
is
,
and
this
explore
?
Let
my
heart
be
still
a
moment
and
this
mystery
;
?
'Tis
the
wind
and
nothing
more
!
"
here
I
flung
the
shutter
,
when
,
with
many
a
flirt
and
flutter
,
In
there
stepped
a
stately
Raven
of
the
saintly
of
yore
;
Not
the
least
obeisance
he
;
not
a
minute
stopped
or
stayed
he
;
But
,
with
mien
of
lord
or
lady
,
above
my
chamber
door
?
Perched
upon
a
bust
of
Pallas
just
above
my
chamber
door
?
Perched
,
and
,
and
nothing
.
Crear