Poe

Happy birthday to one of the great poets and writers of any generation, Edgar Allen Poe.

Poe

(Quoth the Raven nevermore  1/19/1809 - 10/7/1849)

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

Into the bleak of dreary night

In somber thought of prose he'd write

Beneath a moon wane grey 

His words composed would forever convey 

Alliterations meant to beguile 

In pensive mood and distinctive style

What nightmares came to him

haunted dreams of melancholic requiem 

Alas, we shall never ever know

That spark of genius in such troubled soul

Did enchanted spirits whisper to him

Revealing secrets most human of sin

Or was it in purpose of reason 

To unlock the madness of villainous treason 

His tales speak to us all 

In a black cat and raven's prophetic call

A writer who was more than his art

An intellectual mind with a telltale heart 

So remember should fear ever grow 

The darkly grim writings of Edgar Allen Poe

Author's Note

My muse Cate covered my eyes and asked me, "Guess whose birthday it is today? Here's a hint...they would be 213 years old!" Now, I knew this was a trick question, but I fell for it anyway and replied, "I thought you women hated being reminded how old you are." That did not sit very well with her, so now she has put me in a time out. So this might be the last piece of submitted writing for the foreseeable future. Anyway, Happy birthday Edgar Allen Poe! You truly were one of the greats.

Reviews

[Ken Simm.]

This is as dark and as gothic as the inside of a black cat. An excellent birthday tribute with that personal touch.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Ken for your comment on this piece. There is no denying the artistry of this incredible writer named Poe. I will never forget his work.

[Relic]

hahaha, Good authors note. 😂

I can't think of the macabre, the dark, and castles without thinking of Poe. I still read him from time to time. There's no one that provoked horror like he did.

Great writing, Carlos.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I agree Relic the man was in a league all his own when it came to his writing genre. I'll never forget his ability to bring to light the darkness in humanity. He seemed to know it all to well. Thank you my friend for the nice comment.

[Zoe Richardson]

Poe holds such dark fascination. In life and in poetry he embodied mystery and the macabre. this is a fitting tribute to him, and I hope your muse doesn't keep you in time out for long. I suggest flowers and abject apologies. They always worked for me!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much Zoe for your thoughts on this poem. I so agree with your assessment on Poe the writer. Though one of my favorite pieces of writing of his is a beautifully rendered melancholic poem called "Alone". I feel it's one of his more under appreciated masterpieces. Funny you should mention flowers for my muse. Last time I sent her roses she picked clean the petals and kept the thorny stems. She claims they represent the most truthful beauty of love...the pain. Thank you so much again for your comment I really appreciate it.

[Zoe Richardson]

Your muse is right. Love never brought me anything but pain. And precious few flowers. So I buy them for myself whenever I want to and seek muses in the worlds within me!

[Zoe Richardson]

Btw, did you know there is quite a bit of mystery surrounding Poe's death? I keep meaning to read more about it and try to unravel some of it, but I keep getting sidetracked!

[Relic]

Found on a street corner in a suit that didn't fit him. Poe had many enemies. Keep that in mind when researching, Zoe. :)

[Zoe Richardson]

He definitely didn't work and play well with others. Probably devoted to his craft and had no talent for getting along with others. I can identify!

[Soren]

A fan of Poe I enjoyed this write. How long did you ponder weak and weary over many a quaint and curious volume of Poe's lore, in order to write this? I hope your muse did not say Nevermore! Wonderful write loved it.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you kindly Soren for your thoughts. I first read Poe back in 1980 as a freshman in high school. He has haunted me since. This mirthful little piece was a call back to this incredible writer who has influenced me since I first read his work. So I intentionally chose words wisely when waxing poetic on the iconic writer. A line I had edited from the poem actually had "nevermore" in it. I felt that would have been a bit too much. Truth be told one of my favorite works of this master writer is a poem called "Alone". It is a very haunting beautiful poem. Thank you so much again for your comment.

[cheyenne s garcia]

how passionate this piece makes me feel. lovely work!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Cheyenne for your comment on this poem. To me as a hispanic writer I feel writing should always be passionate and exude a sense of life and color. I try to paint my words with compassion and wonder as well as provoking thought. If I can make the reader feel what I'm writing then I consider the work a success. My grandmother who inspired me to writing would always tell stories with so much passion and exuberance that it made you feel like you were in the tale with her. To me she was the greatest storyteller. Thank you again for your kind words.

[cheyenne s garcia]

You are welcome.

[Samuel Dickens]

I'm sorry about the time out. At least she didn't bury you in the wall. This poem exudes Poe (my favorite poet) and speaks well of your confinement. In all of Poe's writing, there is passion and emotion not present in other writings. Tolkien set the example for all fantasy writers, and Poe did the same with horror. Dreary, beguile, melancholy--How wise of you to use those words.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I totally agree of your assessment on both those remarkable writers who I am fond of. They both are inspirations and influential in my work. I have been battling health issues and recently contracted covid. Even though I'm vaccinated it has left me a bit bedridden. In honesty I don't think I would have survived this nasty bug had I not taken those shots. It's really taken a toll on me. But I'll get through this soon enough. Thank you Samuel for your kind words I truly appreciate them my friend.

[Samuel Dickens]

I'm sorry to hear you got covid. Vaxed and boosted, I got it, too, but it wasn't too bad. Sorta like mild flu, but it took weeks to get rid of all the symptoms. Being 74 with a bad heart didn't help.

[Cherrie Palmer]

👏 👏 great job. I will miss your writings ✍ don't stay away to long. We'll save your table here at the cafe.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Cherrie I so appreciate these warm thoughts. Currently battling some health issues which have compounded due to recently contracting covid. Even though I had my shots it's left me a bit bedridden. I could only imagine had I not been vaccinated I don't think I would still be here. It will probably be a couple of months before I feel back to health again. This really has been such a daily struggle. Nothing I can't overcome though. Thank you again so very much for these supportive words I really appreciate it.

[Cherrie Palmer]

My prayers are with you. Keep doing your breathing exercises.

[Shelley Warner]

I like your tribute to Edgar Allen Poe. And I like your story about Cate asking you whose birthday it is. I like the line, "an intellectual mind with a telltale heart".

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

thank you kindly Shelley for your comment I really appreciate it. To me Poe will always signify a mystery of a mystery. A man whose art captured the darkness of the human psyche. Who saw evil and painted it in grim writings. Though he also wrote some remarkably beautiful poetry as well. His poem "Alone" is to me one of his most moving pieces that has not garnered the admiration it deserves. I feel my tribute to him falls short of capturing this enigma of a writing genius. He will never be forgotten as long as books and stories exist.

[Shelley Warner]

I will have to read more of his poetry. I remember reading his poetry way back in junior high. I haven't really since then. It would be interesting to see what he would write now.

[M. J. Smith]

Jeez! She has no sense of humor! I love this. Poe often inspires my more supernatural writings. He was required reading in my sophmore Literature class. The Masque of the Red death still terrifies me, perhaps more in recent times then it did then! I wonder if Poe had a hint of prophecy in his make up...
Amazing job!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you M.J. for your thoughts on this poem. Poe is such a remarkable writer and few know he is credited with writing the very first Detective story. Also one of my favorite poems of his is an emotional sorrowful piece called Alone. I feel that poem is my favorite of his to be honest. I'm just a fan of his artistry. Thank you again my friend.

[M. J. Smith]

you are most welcome, my friend.

[Fran Marie]

For sure he was a dark soul
and a genius writer..made of
melancholy and midnight ink
I can only read his works in
the daytime ..too spooky at
night ..one of the best writers
of all time..happy birthday
and salutations to you Mr.Poe ..

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

He truly was an incredible writer. I recently saw a documentary about him which was fascinating. He is actually credited with writing the first ever detective story. Well before Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Much of his stories I read as a teen in my high school literature class. Many love his poem the raven, and rightly so, but I personally am drawn to one of his most emotional pieces which has been vastly under appreciated. It's a poem called Alone. I feel that best reflects the man and what haunted him the most. Thank you Fran for your kind comment on this work as well as the encouragement your words give.