Edgar Allen Poe on His Birthday: Cognac and Roses Nevermore
a darkling born
marked for sadness
and destined for pain
orphaned at 3
and taken in,
a rich uncle
tried to save him.
Dark forces drove him
and soon he began
to squander
the uncle's gifts.
Cut off then,
and destitute
but he knew the answer:
To put words to the
darkness that
lived in his soul.
To show the world
the tortuous twists
of a mind that was
never at peace.
Then at 40 found delirious
screaming from old terrors
taken away for help
but dead all too soon
and no one knew why.
Soon silent was he in the grave.
Then it was cognac
and three roses
each year at his tomb
always on January 19.
This strange sight was seen
for sixty years
but then on sixty-one
the roses weren't there
the cognac gone too.
Though they waited all night
in the cold in the church
the grave stayed empty and bare.
They sang and recited
the poems of old
and waited for what would appear
But just one verse echoed
again and again in their ears --
"Quoth the raven: Nevermore."
According to the CBC: "A 60-year annual tradition that involved a mysterious visitor leaving roses and a bottle of cognac at the grave of writer Edgar Allan Poe on the anniversary of his birthday appears to have ended.
In a custom dating back to 1949, an anonymous visitor has come every year on Jan. 19 to lay three roses and a half-bottle of cognac at the Poe grave marker in downtown Baltimore.
But on Tuesday morning, there were no roses or cognac at the grave." Read more here.
From Poems by Edgar Allen Poe: "Edgar's life was marred with intense drinking bouts, giving him a bad reputation in 19th century society. He however continued to write wonderful short stories like "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Gold Bug", which brought him fame in Europe.
After the death of his wife in 1847, Poe fell apart emotionally and died two years later, at the age of forty." Read more here.
Published by Linda Louise Johnson
Linda Louise Johnson is an animal lover, crafter and hobbyist, graphic art afficionado and veteran writer. Her work has been featured on Associated Content, Yahoo! News, and eHow as well as in Poetry Garden,... View profile
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50 Comments
Post a CommentVery interesting. Wonder who put the roses and cognac on the grave. Obviously a really old person if it lasted 60 years.
Terrific read! Fascinating about the roses and cognac! Great links you shared as well!
Those initals MLS My best friend name all this is totally insane My mind is racing how now I see you came to me for a reason my heart is melting feelings swelting thank you louise all this you did write it for me.
GOD I read annie that is my daughters name I wondered why did I pick that name. You are making me remember things I have blocked out Louise..... I have read this all before I was shot. Maybe now I can get a face to go with oh my I can not stop reading now I have so much to do yet I stay...
GOD I read annie that is my daughters name I wondered why did I pick that name. You are making me remember things I have blocked out Louise..... I have read this all before I was shot. Maybe now I can get a face to go with oh my I can not stop reading now I have so much to do yet I stay...
GOD I read annie that is my daughters name I wondered why did I pick that name. You are making me remember things I have blocked out Louise..... I have read this all before I was shot. Maybe now I can get a face to go with oh my I can not stop reading now I have so much to do yet I stay...
GOD I read annie that is my daughters name I wondered why did I pick that name. You are making me remember things I have blocked out Louise..... I have read this all before I was shot. Maybe now I can get a face to go with oh my I can not stop reading now I have so much to do yet I stay...
I am still reading on this article in your links posted. Thank you so much I feel much like this dreams inside of the dream I had a very bad dream about my golden girl. Could not rest at all last night my eyes were leaking.
DId you write this for me See sad for life???? OM Goodness Gracious..... Thank you sweetie.
Sounds like the mystery man of Baltimore is himself silent in the grave.