Surely that is something at my window lattice. Let me see, let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore.
Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing. But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token.
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore, tell me what thy lordly name is!
Nevermore
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
Other friends have flown before, on the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.
Nevermore
Open here I flung the shutter, when, in there stepped a stately Raven. Not the least obeisance made he, with mien of lord or lady, perched beside my chamber door.
Doubtless, what it utters is its only stock and store caught from some unhappy master whom merciful disaster followed fast till his songs one burden bore of never, nevermore.
But the Raven spoke only that one word. Nothing farther he uttered, till i scarcely more than muttered
Nevermore
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken
Nevermore
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking what this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore meant by croaking "Nevermore."
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
Wretch, thy God hath lent thee by these angles he hath sent thee. Quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!
Tell me truly, I implore, is there balm in Gilead? Tell me, I implore!
Prophet! Thing of evil. Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, on this home by horror haunted
Prophet! Thing of evil! By that Heaven that bends above us, by that God we both adore, tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, it shall a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore.
Nevermore
Leave my loneliness unbroken! Quit the bust above my table!
Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend! Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Nevermore
And the Raven, never flitting, still sitting. And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming. And my soul from out that shadow lies floating on the floor, shall be lifted nevermore!