The Night Mail and Other Poems

[julesapple]

"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,

[julesapple]

Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore -

[julesapple]

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"

[julesapple]

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

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Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

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Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;

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For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

[julesapple]

Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door -

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Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

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With such name as "Nevermore."

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But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only

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That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

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Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered -

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Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown before -

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On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."