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 shoreTell me what thy lordly name is On the Night's Plutonian shore!" Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." Much I marvelled this ungainly For we cannot help agreeing Ever yet was blessed with seeing Bird or beast upon the sculptured Bust above his chamber door, With such name as Nevermore." But the Raven, sitting lonely On that placid bust, spoke only That one word he did outpour. On the morrow he will leave me, Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." Startled at the stillness broken Followed fast and followed faster. Till his songs one burden bore Till the dirges of his hope Of Never-nevermore."" But the Raven still beguiling All my sad soul into smiling, Fancy unto fancy, thinking What this ominous bird of yore What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, Meant in croaking "Nevermore." This I sat engaged in guessing, To the fowl whose fiery eyes now With the lamplight gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore! Su |