"Poe's Dream" 献给Edgar Allan Poe                                   歌子摄影
                                 

    在今年1月19号的这一天，在巴尔的摩, 马里兰的威斯敏斯特教会Edgar Allan Poe的墓前,跟以往每年一样，照例地摆放着一个半瓶的科涅克白兰地和一支玫瑰。每年在Edgar Allan Poe生日的这一天为他献上这些礼物的人几十年如一日，从没有间断过，可是，却从来没有人见过这个神秘的守墓者。

    Edgar Allan Poe是一个美国家喻户晓的作家和诗人。他生于1809年1月19日,死于1849年10月7日。他一生贫困，情感波折。曾被发现神志恍惚，最后死因不明。他的故事和诗常常在夜半人静的时候把孩子们带入一个恐怖和超自然的遐想的境界中。 黑色的乌鸦经常出现在他作品中。怀念他失去的爱人的一首诗“乌鸦” "The Raven" 是他的代表作品之一。




The Raven

by Edgar Allan Poe

First Published in 1845


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 someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

" 'Tis some visitor," 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 forevermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling 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 visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door,
Some late visitor 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, truly 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 the darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals 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, something louder than before,
"Surely," said I, "surely, that is something at my window lattice.
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore.
Let my heart be still a moment, and this mystery explore.
" 'Tis the wind, and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven, of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door.
Perched upon a bust of Pallas, just above my chamber door,
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.⋯。。。