Difference between revisions of "Raven"

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:"Tis some visitor", I muttered.
 
:"Tis some visitor", I muttered.
 
:"Tapping at my chamber door
 
:"Tapping at my chamber door
:Only this, only this
+
:Only this and nothing more.
:And nothing more.
 
  
 
:Muttering I got up weakly
 
:Muttering I got up weakly
:I've always had trouble sleeping
+
:always have had trouble sleeping
 
:Stumbling upright my mind racing
 
:Stumbling upright my mind racing
 
:Furtive thoughts flowing once more
 
:Furtive thoughts flowing once more
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:Thrilled me, filled me
 
:Thrilled me, filled me
 
:With fantastic terror as never felt before
 
:With fantastic terror as never felt before
:So that now, oh wind, stood still breathing
+
:So that now, oh wind, stop breathing
 
:Hoping yet to calm my breathing
 
:Hoping yet to calm my breathing
 
:"Tis some visitor entreating
 
:"Tis some visitor entreating

Revision as of 21:05, 11 August 2020

"The Raven", Edgar Allen Poe (1845), revisited by Lou Reed (2003)


Once upon a midnight dreary
As 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.
Muttering I got up weakly
always have had trouble sleeping
Stumbling upright my mind racing
Furtive thoughts flowing once more
I there, hoping for some sunrise
Happiness would be a surprise
Loneliness no longer a prize
Rapping at my chamber door
Seeking out the clever bore
Lost in dreams forever more
Only this and nothing more.
Hovering my pulse was racing
Stale tobacco my lips tasting
Scotch sitting upon my basin
Remnants of the night before
Came again
Infernal tapping on the door
In my mind jabbing
Is it in or outside rapping
Calling out to me once more
The fit and the fury of Lenore
Nameless here forever more
And the silken sad uncertain
Rustling of the purple curtain
Thrilled me, filled me
With fantastic terror as never felt before
So that now, oh wind, stop breathing
Hoping yet to calm my breathing
"Tis some visitor entreating
Entrance at my chamber door
Some lost visitor entreating
Entrance at my chamber door
That it is, and nothing more."
Deep into the darkness peering
Long I stood there
Wondering fearing
Doubting dreaming fantasies
No mortal dared to dream before
But the silence was unbroken
And the stillness gave no token
And the only word there spoken
Was the whispered name, "Lenore?."
This I thought
And out loud whispered from my lips
The foul name festered
Echoing itself
Merely this, and nothing more
Back into my chamber turning
Every nerve within me burning
When once again I heard a tapping
Somewhat louder than before
"Surely", said I
"Surely that is something at the iron staircase."
Open the door to see what the threat is
Open the window, free the the shutters
Let us this mystery explore
"Oh bursting heart be still this once
Let's this mystery explore
It's the wind, it's the wind
And nothing more."
Just one epithet I muttered as inside
I gagged and I shuddered
When with a manly flirt and flutter
In there flew a stately raven
Sleek and ravenous as any foe
Not the least obeisance made he
Not a minutes gesture towards me
Of recognition or politeness
But perched above my chamber door
This foul and salivating visage
Insinuating with it's knowledge
Perched above my chamber door
Silent sat and staring
Nothing more.
Askance, askew
The self's sad fancy smiles at you I swear
At this savage vicious countenance it wears
Though you show here shorn and shaven
I admit myself forlorn and craven
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven
Wandering from the opiate shores
Tell me tell me tell me
What thy lordly name is
That you are not nightmare sewage
Some dire power drink or inhalation
Framed from the flames of downtown lore
And the raven, sitting lonely
Staring sickly at my male sex only
That one word
As if in his soul and that one word
He did outpour, "pathetic."
Nothing further than he uttered
Not a feather then he fluttered
Till finally was I that muttered
As I stared dully at the floor
"Look you, other friends have flown and left me
Flown as each and every hope has flown before
And as you no doubt will, before tomorrow."
But then I felt the air grow denser
Perfumed from some unseen incense
As though accepting angelic intrusion
When in fact I felt collusion
Before the guise of false memories
Respite respite respite
Through the haze of cocaine's glory
I smoke and I smoke the blue vial's glory
To forget
At once
The base Lenore
"Prophet", said I, "thing of evil
Prophet still, if a bird or devil
By that heaven that bends above us
By that God we both ignore
Tell this soul with sorrow laden
Willful and destructive intent
Tell me, tell me how had lapsed a pure
Heart lady to the greediest of needs?
Sweaty arrogant dickless liar
Who has ascribed to nothing higher
Than a jab from a prick to a needle
Straight to betrayal and disgrace
A conscience showing not a trace?"
"Be that word, our sign of parting
Bird or fiend," I yelled upstarting
"Get thee back into the tempest
And the smoke filled bottle's shore
Leave no black plume as a token
Of the slime thy soul has spoken
Leave my loneliness unbroken
Quit as those have quit before
Take the talon from my heart
And see that I can care no more
Whatever matter came before
I vanish with the dead Lenore."
But the raven, never flitting
Still is sitting silent sitting
Above a painting a silent painting
Of the forever silenced whore
And his eyes have all the seemings
Of a demon that is dreaming
And the lamplight over him streaming
Throws his shadow to the floor
I love she who hates me more
I love she who hates me more
And my soul shall not be lifted from that shadow
Nevermore

Poe's text,