I have been an Edgar Allen Poe fan for a couple of years now, mostly because I really enjoy his vivid and strong imagery, but also because I actually enjoy my poets "rhyming and chyming" sometimes. I actually believe that poets today, at least the danish ones, have strayed a bit far from their own medium. I could elaborate, but I think I will abstain.
So, I was just getting some kicks reading some new Edgar Allen Poe poems, when I stumbled over this little gem. It is probably quite well known, and a good few of you, if not the majority, has probably already read it. I will still post it, because I just love the imagery in this little text. The way Poe almost creates a paradoxical theme, the almost soothing bombardment of otherworldly images, is just amazing. Here it is: Dreamworld
By a route obscure and lonely, Haunted by ill angels only, Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT, On a black throne reigns upright, I have reached these lands but newly From an ultimate dim Thule- From a wild clime that lieth, sublime, Out of SPACE- out of TIME.
Bottomless vales and boundless floods, And chasms, and caves, and Titan woods, With forms that no man can discover For the tears that drip all over; Mountains toppling evermore Into seas without a shore; Seas that restlessly aspire, Surging, unto skies of fire; Lakes that endlessly outspread Their lone waters- lone and dead,- Their still waters- still and chilly With the snows of the lolling lily.
By the lakes that thus outspread Their lone waters, lone and dead,- Their sad waters, sad and chilly With the snows of the lolling lily,- By the mountains- near the river Murmuring lowly, murmuring ever,- By the grey woods,- by the swamp Where the toad and the newt encamp- By the dismal tarns and pools Where dwell the Ghouls,- By each spot the most unholy- In each nook most melancholy- There the traveller meets aghast Sheeted Memories of the Past- Shrouded forms that start and sigh As they pass the wanderer by- White-robed forms of friends long given, In agony, to the Earth- and Heaven.
For the heart whose woes are legion 'Tis a peaceful, soothing region- For the spirit that walks in shadow 'Tis- oh, 'tis an Eldorado! But the traveller, travelling through it, May not- dare not openly view it! Never its mysteries are exposed To the weak human eye unclosed; So wills its King, who hath forbid The uplifting of the fringed lid; And thus the sad Soul that here passes Beholds it but through darkened glasses.
By a route obscure and lonely, Haunted by ill angels only, Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT, On a black throne reigns upright, I have wandered home but newly From this ultimate dim Thule.
Just to make sure this is completely clear. I have not analysed this poem at all. I speak from a mere firsthand impression, while not at all enough to talk at length about any EAP poem, is enough to feel the emotion poured into the ink on paper.
On June 22 2011 10:04 endy wrote: how can you be such a fan and misspell his name three times ? It's Allan, not Allen.
As a man who appreciates poetry but really isn't a Poe fan, I had originally come here to express my distaste for the man. Instead, I find myself posting this:
Do you mean like they're uncovering new ones? Or they're new to you?
New to me. Im a poetry newbie in general. I know of some of the great poets, but I'm still (and has been for years now) in the excited, unknowloedgable little piece of bother phase. I get all giddy whenever I read something, only to me, new and exciting. I am also tired as fuck. It's 4 in the morning where I am right now. It's probably a combination.
I would advise you just get an anthology that will give you a good survey of the period you're interested in (there's also some that try to cover the entire history of English). Norton anthologies are typically what English students are asked to buy, since they have good footnotes (if footnotes are important to you). I don't know if poetic conventions (such as what sonnets are usually about and why it's important when a sonnet isn't about what they usually are about) are explained since English students are kind of expected to know that stuff from class, but they're pretty beefy (1000 pages) and it's probably worth getting if you like poetry. Even though you can find most poetry on the internet, it will still be useful because it will guide you through different authors in a logical way rather than you just picking random authors who have been quoted in video games
EPT
