The Raven

“Swung by SERAPHIM whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor”

“What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, OMINOUS bird of yore Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”

“Startled at the stillness broken by reply so APTLY spoken”

“Much I marveled this UNGAINLY fowl to hear discourse so plainly,”

“Then this ebony bird BEGUILING my sad fancy into smiling,”

“And each separate dying ember WROUGHT its ghost upon the floor”

“Tis some visitor,” I MUTTERED, “tapping at my chamber door”

“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I IMPLORE;”

“Over many a QUAINT and curious volume of forgotten lore [Folk Tales]”

"with my head at ease reclining on the cushions velvet lining that the lamp-light GLOATED o’er”

“As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my CHAMBER door”

“This I sat ENGAGED in guessing, but no syllable expressing”

“On the PALLID bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;”

“Till the dirges [sad song] of his Hope that MELANCHOLY burden bore Of ‘Never-nevermore”

“In there stepped a STATELY Raven of the saintly days of yore;”

“Nothing farther then he UTTERED— not a feather then he fluttered —”

“Tell this soul with sorrow LADEN if, within the distant Aidenn”

“Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the BLEAK December”

"GHASTLY grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore —”

“But the Raven, sitting lonely on the PLACID bust, spoke only”

“By the grave and stern DECORUM of the countenance it wore,”

“Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land ENCHANTED—”

“Tis some visitor ENTREATING entrance at my chamber door”

“Presently my soul grew stronger; HESITATING then no longer,”

“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I PONDERED, weak and weary..."

“For the rare and RADIANT maiden whom the angels name Lenore”