The Raven Paperback – May 29, 2015

"Deep into thatdarkness peering,long I stood therewondering, fearingDoubting, dreamingdreams no mortalever dared to dream before...""The Raven" is about loss of a loved one and will stick with you, maybe even haunt your dreams for a few nights. I picked up the Kindle version for free and I was instantly reminded why this is one of my favorite poems. (There is a long preface before it, which I found interesting. But if you just want to read the poem, you can use the index and click on "The Poem.") The prose sings like a bird, like its name, the Raven, which only says one word, "Nevermore." The protagonist on whom the Raven spies loses his grip on reality; he is grief-stricken over the loss of his beloved Lenore."But the Raven, sittinglonely on the placid bust,spoke onlyThat one word, as if hissoul in that one word hedid outpour.Nothing further then heuttered--not a feather thenhe fluttered--Till I scarcely more thanmuttered, "Other friends have flown before--On the morrow he will leaveme, as my hopes haveflown before."Then the bird said, "Nevermore."The bottom line: "The Raven" is a quick, rythmic, brilliant, disturbing, engrossing poem.-Raeden Zen

will be a great part of my Poe collection

Edgar Allan Poe was an early 19th century American writer, who died young at the age of 40. He was mainly known for his gothic and/or horror style. Like many of us, I first read a selection of his work in a high school anthology. And that was the last time that I have read any of his work, which is all too common outcome. That brief high school “sampling” had no follow-up. Lo’ this half century later, I’ve been re-visiting many of the authors in that high school anthology.And Kindle makes it so much easier, and in this case, acquiring “The Raven” was free. A few keystrokes, and the work is literally in your hands. Over 60% of this edition is the introduction! I found that another Amazon reviewer described my sentiments precisely. And as I write this, there is a charge of plagiarism in the media, specifically that one potential Republican “First Lady” cribbed her speech from another actual “First Lady.” Therefore, I’d like to give full credit to Billie Shoemate who called it an “…overly-long and drawn out windbag of an introduction…” and went on to briefly describe a high school teacher who put so many off from further reading of any author in the anthology. Skip the introduction.As for the poem itself, it has a cadence that is appealing. And lines that many of us might still remember, since they have filtered into our popular culture, for example, the opening: “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary.” The author is reading late at night, lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore, when the raven comes to his room. The lost opportunities of life are summed up by the raven with “nevermore.”The poem itself is only 15% of this edition, with the remainder being a recap of the more famous lines (which is, to a large degree, a repeat of the poem itself!) One can read the poem itself, with reflection, in about 10-15 minutes, and I’d recommend doing just that, for the first time reader, or a repeater. Like Shoemate, think the poem deserves 5-stars, but will give this edition only 4-stars.

This is one of my most favorite poems ever written! Poe is my favorite author so this one is definitely my number one favorite!

My copy from the 1970’s was worn out so I had to replace it. I almost have it memorized. Good reading

What can you say about this poem that hasn't already been said? I am writing this on Halloween Eve....just realized that! How fitting. I love the flow of this poem. When I read it I always have the voice of Christopher Walken in my head narrating it. The poem starts out slowly, and innocent enough, then builds to a climax. I actually took a class in college on Horror and Terror in Literature and we had to read/analyze this. I keep on trying to memorize it so that I can recite it at camping trips around the campfire to the grandkids, hehe.

Half the book is some guy’s opinion and then the poem..

This poem casts a spell that is difficult if not impossible to forget. It reflects the view held by many that true love is eternal. Even after death the memory lingers as a charm.This volume has a long learned introduction to the poem. I enjoyed reading it again.