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,
             As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my
                                                  chamber door -
             '"Tis some visiter", I muttered, "tapping at my chamber
                                                               door -
                  Only this and nothing more."

             Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
             And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost
                                                    upon the floor.
             Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought
                                                          to borrow
             From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for
                                                the lost Lenore -
             For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels
                                                      name Lenore -
                  Nameless _here_ for evermore.

             And the silken, sad, [bad word] of each purple
                                                              curtain
             Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never
                                                          felt before;
             So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood
                                                            repeating
             "Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber
                                                            door -
             Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber
                                                             door; -
                  This it is and nothing more."

             Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no
                                                            longer,
             "Sir", said I, "or Madam, [bad word] your forgiveness
                                                         I implore;
             But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came
                                                           rapping,
             And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my
                                                   chamber door,
             That I scarce was sure I heard you" - here I opened
                                                    wide the door; -
                  Darkness there and nothing more.

             Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there
                                                  wondering, fearing,
             Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared
                                                   to dream before;
             But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave
                                                            no token,
             And the only word there spoken was the whispered
                                                     word, "Lenore?"
             This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the
                                                     word, "Lenore!"
                  Merely this and nothing more.

             Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me
                                                               burning,
             Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than
                                                          before.
             "Surely", said I, "surely that is somet