Poe, E.

Near a Raven

Midnights so dreary, tired and weary.
Silently pondering volumes extolling all by-now obsolete lore.
During my rather long nap – the weirdest tap!
An ominous vibrating sound disturbing my chamber’s antedoor.
“This”, I whispered quietly, “I ignore”.

Perfectly, the intellect remembers: the ghostly fires, a glittering ember.
Inflamed by lightning’s outbursts, windows cast penumbras upon this floor.
Sorrowful, as one mistreated, unhappy thoughts I heeded:
That inimitable lesson in elegance – Lenore –
Is delighting, exciting…nevermore.

Ominously, curtains parted (my serenity outsmarted),
And fear overcame my being – the fear of “forevermore”.
Fearful foreboding abided, selfish sentiment confided,
As I said, “Methinks mysterious traveler knocks afore.
A man is visiting, of age threescore.”

Taking little time, briskly addressing something: “Sir,” (robustly)
“Tell what source originates clamorous noise afore?
Disturbing sleep unkindly, is it you a-tapping, so slyly?
Why, devil incarnate!–” Here completely unveiled I my antedoor–
Just darkness, I ascertained – nothing more.

While surrounded by darkness then, I persevered to clearly comprehend.
I perceived the weirdest dream…of everlasting “nevermores”.
Quite, quite, quick nocturnal doubts fled – such relief! – as my intellect said,
(Desiring, imagining still) that perchance the apparition was uttering a whispered “Lenore”.
This only, as evermore.

Silently, I reinforced, remaining anxious, quite scared, afraid,
While intrusive tap did then come thrice – O, so stronger than sounded afore.
“Surely” (said silently) “it was the banging, clanging window lattice.”
Glancing out, I quaked, upset by horrors hereinbefore,
Perceiving: a “nevermore”.

Completely disturbed, I said, “Utter, please, what prevails ahead.
Repose, relief, cessation, or but more dreary ‘nevermores’?”
The bird intruded thence – O, irritation ever since! –
Then sat on Pallas’ pallid bust, watching me (I sat not, therefore),
And stated “nevermores”.

Bemused by raven’s dissonance, my soul exclaimed, “I seek intelligence;
Explain thy purpose, or soon cease intoning forlorn ‘nevermores’!”
“Nevermores”, winged corvus proclaimed – thusly was a raven named?
Actually maintain a surname, upon Pluvious seashore?
I heard an oppressive “nevermore”.

My sentiments extremely pained, to perceive an utterance so plain,
Most interested, mystified, a meaning I hoped for.
“Surely,” said the raven’s watcher, “separate discourse is wiser.
Therefore, liberation I’ll obtain, retreating heretofore –
Eliminating all the ‘nevermores’ “.

Still, the detestable raven just remained, unmoving, on sculptured bust.
Always saying “never” (by a red chamber’s door).
A poor, tender heartache maven – a sorrowful bird – a raven!
O, I wished thoroughly, forthwith, that he’d fly heretofore.
Still sitting, he recited “nevermores”.

The raven’s dirge induced alarm – “nevermore” quite wearisome.
I meditated: “Might its utterances summarize of a calamity before?”
O, a sadness was manifest – a sorrowful cry of unrest;
“O,” I thought sincerely, “it’s a melancholy great – furthermore,
Removing doubt, this explains ‘nevermores’ “.

Seizing just that moment to sit – closely, carefully, advancing beside it,
Sinking down, intrigued, where velvet cushion lay afore.
A creature, midnight-black, watched there – it studied my soul, unawares.
Wherefore, explanations my insight entreated for.
Silently, I pondered the “nevermores”.

“Disentangle, nefarious bird! Disengage – I am disturbed!”
Intently its eye burned, raising the cry within my core.
“That delectable Lenore – whose velvet pillow this was, heretofore,
Departed thence, unsettling my consciousness therefore.
She’s returning – that maiden – aye, nevermore.”

Since, to me, that thought was madness, I renounced continuing sadness.
Continuing on, I soundly, adamantly forswore:
“Wretch,” (addressing blackbird only) “fly swiftly – emancipate me!”
“Respite, respite, detestable raven – and discharge me, I implore!”
A ghostly answer of: “nevermore”.

” ‘Tis a prophet? Wraith? Strange devil? Or the ultimate evil?”
“Answer, tempter-sent creature!”, I inquired, like before.
“Forlorn, though firmly undaunted, with ‘nevermores’ quite indoctrinated,
Is everything depressing, generating great sorrow evermore?
I am subdued!”, I then swore.

In answer, the raven turned – relentless distress it spurned.
“Comfort, surcease, quiet, silence!” – pleaded I for.
“Will my (abusive raven!) sorrows persist unabated?
Nevermore Lenore respondeth?”, adamantly I encored.
The appeal was ignored.

“O, satanic inferno’s denizen — go!”, I said boldly, standing then.
“Take henceforth loathsome “nevermores” – O, to an ugly Plutonian shore!
Let nary one expression, O bird, remain still here, replacing mirth.
Promptly leave and retreat!”, I resolutely swore.
Blackbird’s riposte: “nevermore”.

So he sitteth, observing always, perching ominously on these doorways.
Squatting on the stony bust so untroubled, O therefore.
Suffering stark raven’s conversings, so I am condemned, subserving,
To a nightmare cursed, containing miseries galore.
Thus henceforth, I’ll rise (from a darkness, a grave) — nevermore!

— Original: E. Poe
— Redone by measuring circles.

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Kommentare (20)

  1. #1 Viṣṇu
    14/03/2018

    I ate some pie.

    (Warum kann ich eigentlich nicht unter meinem gewöhn­lichen Namn posten? Alle Postings verschwinden spurlos.)

  2. #2 Cornelius Courts
    14/03/2018

    @Visnu: “(Warum kann ich eigentlich nicht unter meinem gewöhn­lichen Namn posten? Alle Postings verschwinden spurlos.)”

    vielleicht, weil Dein gewöhnlicher Name zufällig auf der Blockliste steht. Wie lautet er denn?

  3. #3 Jonas Schimke
    14/03/2018

    Poes Gedicht gibt’s auch auf youtube:
    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BefliMlEzZ8&w=560&h=315%5D

    Enjoy!

  4. #4 Jolly
    14/03/2018

    @ Jonas Schimke

    Bei youtube fängt es mit 3,5 an. Um was geht es da?

  5. #5 Bullet
    14/03/2018

    Wait, what? “Um was geht es da”? RTFT, Mann.

  6. #6 Jonas Schimke
    14/03/2018

    @Jolly,

    bei mir funktioniert’s. Eine Vertonung von “The Raven”, vorgetragen von Christopher Lee.

  7. #7 Cornelius Courts
    14/03/2018

    Aber es ist klar, daß “Near a Raven” nicht von Poe ist, oder?

  8. #8 tomtoo
    14/03/2018

    Klasse Mehode zum Auswendiglernen.

  9. #9 rolak
    14/03/2018

    zum Auswendiglernen

    Für mich nicht, tomtoo, noch weniger aussichtsreich als das sture ZiffernfolgePauken.

    oder?

    Nee, Elbe.
    Ja sicher doch, Cornelius – und wie jedesmal bei derartiger -äh- Verschlüsselung bedaure ich den Mangel an Einstelligem und NullErsatz im Deutschen.

  10. #10 Jolly
    14/03/2018

    Eine Vertonung von “Near a Raven” findet man auch auf youtube (abridged).

    Vielleicht als zusätzliche Hilfe zum Auswendiglernen für Synästhetiker geeignet.

  11. #11 noch'n Flo
    Schoggiland
    14/03/2018

    @ CC:

    Aber es ist klar, daß “Near a Raven” nicht von Poe ist, oder?

    Womit es wieder ein Poe wäre… 😉

  12. #12 tomtoo
    14/03/2018

    @rolak
    Ich bin mir nicht sicher, alles mit mehr als 8 Stellen fällt mir schon schwer. Aber Songtexte kann ich mir zumindest so einigermasen Merken. Sollte alsi jemand einen Song mit Text basteln. Hat PI einen refrain ??

  13. #13 tomtoo
    14/03/2018

    @rolak
    ….Mangel an Einstelligem und NullErsatz im Deutschen…
    Gibts massig, du solltest halt nicht Hochdeutsch wählen.

  14. #14 Jolly
    15/03/2018

    @tomtoo

    Hat PI einen refrain ?

    Mit Sicherheit, und nicht nur einen.

    Es könnte sogar sein, dass jede beliebige Strophe sich immer wieder mal wiederholt. Hoffe, das hilft Dir.

  15. #15 tomtoo
    15/03/2018

    @jolly
    Ich dacht ja so innerhalb der ersten, sagen wir mal 4000 stellen, sonst wir der Song so lange. ; )

  16. #16 JLloyd
    München
    16/03/2018

    “I ate some pie … and it was delicious.” Könnte mir bitte jemand auflösen wie man vom “Sigma” auf “some” kommt?

    TIA, J.

  17. #17 Jolly
    16/03/2018

    @ JLloyd

    Dazu musst Du nur eins und eins zusammenzählen.

  18. #18 noch'n Flo
    Schoggiland
    16/03/2018

    @ JLloyd:

    Könnte mir bitte jemand auflösen wie man vom “Sigma” auf “some” kommt?

    Sigma steht für eine Summenformel, “Summe” heisst auf Englisch “sum”, was ausgesprochen genauso klingt wie “some”.

    Alle Klarheiten beseitigt?

  19. #19 Laie
    19/03/2018

    Eye @ Sejm pee.

  20. #20 Alderamin
    19/03/2018

    @Laie

    Pee? Iiih…!