The Raven

I fall from the holy empire An angel that loosing his path I am tormented with passion and fire I am tormented with pride, greed and lust The Raven Once upon a midnight dreary While I pondered, weak and weary Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore While I nodded, nearly napping Suddenly there came a tapping I am dreaming flying higher and higher I am dreaming hope, fear, love and pain My graceful forbidden desire They always call whisper my name "Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! Prophet still, if bird or devil! Whether Tempter sent Or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore Desolate yet all undaunted On this desert land enchanted On this home by Horror haunted Tell me truly, I implore Is there, is there balm in Gilead? Tell me, tell me, I implore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore" Deep into that darkness peering Long I stood there wondering, fearing, doubting Dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before "Be that word our sign of parting Bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting "Leave no black plume as a token Of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! Quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart" I fall from the holy empire An angel that loosing his path I am tormented with passion and fire I am tormented with pride, greed and lust And the Raven, never flitting Still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas Just above my chamber door And his eyes have all the seeming Of a demon's that is dreaming And the lamp-light o'er him streaming Throws his shadow on the floor And my soul from out that shadow That lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted Nevermore