The Man

reverse perspective on Poe's poem The Raven. written for english :) my project is this whole elaborate thing but I figured i'd at least post the peom :) I matched the rhyme and everything :D

The Man

 

Upon the sill, I am sitting, oh so still, oh so still.

Tapping gently on the window; no, not the door.

And suddenly he hears the rapping, it is such a gentle tapping,

And wakes from his napping; he is sleeping no more.

He listens again for the rapping, but I tap no more.

So, he gets up and quietly shuffles across the wooden floor.

 

Deep into the darkness he peers; I can only imagine his fears,

Of what could be lurking in the dark; behind the opened door.

The man is angry for being woken, but then the silence is broken,

Only one word is spoken; he whispers the name “Lenore”

And the echo softly replied with the word “Lenore”

Only this word, and nothing more.

 

I soon again begin tapping, a more forceful rapping,

And this time he is sure it is not at the chamber door.

He must wonder what noise that is, maybe wind at the window lattice,

I mutter “whatever that is” and he walks over to explore.

Shuffling dreary-eyed over to the window to explore,

He says “’Tis the wind and nothing more.”

 

Then he flung open the shutter, I stepped in with a flutter,

I looked around the room and I decided to explore,

So I flew with utmost grace, at a steady pace,

And the man gave no chase, so I perched above the door.

I perched on the bust of Pallas above the chamber door.

I perched and sat and nothing more.

 

The man seemed beguiled, and he began to smile,

Maybe because I was perched above his chamber door.

He walked over to me, and had only one plea.

He asked my name of me, and if I had come from the shore.

I knew my name, but nothing of the Night’s Plutonian Shore.

And all I croaked was “Nevermore.”

 

He seemed amazed, and slightly dazed,

And so fascinated by my speech, like he’d never

     heard a bird before,

And so I said not a word; he thought I was just a bird,

Or maybe what he heard was nothing but a distant snore.

Yes, he thought what he heard was just a distant snore,

Until I again spoke “Nevermore.”

 

Now the man seemed truly happy, no longer dreary,

Amused by me, my wisdom, and the word I said before.

So he pulled up a chair, and sat down there,

And I watched him stare at me above the door.

Yes, I was still perched on the bust above the door,

And he pondered the meaning of “Nevermore.”

 

I continued sitting, upon the bust that was befitting,

Perched on the goddess of wisdom’s bust above the door.

And I, I knew so much, but wouldn’t let on such,

And his heart he did clutch, as he asked about Lenore.

He asked for a break from the memories of Lenore.

But all I said was “Nevermore.”

 

He asked me questions, but I had no suggestions,

About what he was beginning to implore.

He asked about holding his wife, she had moved on to the afterlife

But I was wise, and tell him anything about Lenore.

Not even when he pleaded about the beautiful Lenore.

All I replied with was the word “Nevermore.”

 

The man shrieked, and the floorboards creaked,

As he started up across the floor.

He shouted “leave no black plume as a token,

     of the lie you have spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!”

But I remained above the door,

And I simply croaked “Nevermore.”

 

Here I am still sitting, never flitting,

Perched on the bust of Pallas above the chamber door,

While I sit smiling, there is no reason for flying,

Watching the man nearly crying, about his lost Lenore.

He sits and mourns a beautiful woman named Lenore,

And he shall be happy nevermore.

Author's Note

soo do you like it?? this is the font I used on it too.. I think it's Poe-y :) took me soooo long to write

Reviews

[Arien Bleuefire]

the cruelty of the raven is... so cruel ;) anyway, this is such a beautiful poem the title, the man is awesome cuz its like the raven the questions the man asks is amusing to the raven, adding to his cruelty i love it love love love it!!! u shuld do 1 4 anabel lee, like her watching him from heaven or sumthing!! def 1 of my favs!!

[Alex Thomas]

This is great. You really put your own spin on the Raven while keeping it true. I like the way you play around with perspectives. Sorry I didn't read this one sooner!

[eighwoeifj]

Nice Nice :) The line that really caught me was the last line, "And he shall be happy nevermore." because it just captures the... idea? of the original poem so well!