Raven
From Creolista!
- "The Raven", Edgar Allen Poe 18 (revisited by Lou Reed)
- 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, only this
- And nothing more.
- Muttering I got up weakly
- I've always 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, stood still 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