The Raven

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

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.

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul has 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!"

But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,

"Other friends have flown before—

On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before."

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,