NEVERMORE! ah, nevermore! Soul's deep voice of true heart-aching, Nevermore! With a struggle and a waking, Life and hope have done leave-taking, And the spirit learns the tone Nevermore to be unknown, Nevermore! Nevermore! ah, nevermore! Be no words of grief let fall, This one word says sorrow's all, Nevermore! Let thy palms enclasp thy face, Drowning tears shall ne'er erase This stern word, nevermore! Fold thine arms upon thy breast, Where the world of woe is prest, In thy bosom, dark and deep, Shall thy busy fancies rest Nevermore! Now thou canst not shake apart The mists around thy heart, Where the stifling shadows creep, Like dreams that trouble sleep, When we wake with strange surprise, And the tears are in our eyes. And a voice is ever heard, Dread as ocean's unknown word, Where their chiming even-song Sadly chant the waves along, Over wrecks down deep below, Singing ever as they flow, And, in murmurs far away, Seem the mingling tones to say, Nevermore! Nevermore! ah, nevermore! All thy strength, alas, is sold, And thy life is high and bold Nevermore! Now the silver chord is loosed, And the fountain all unused, And hope is dead and cold In the goblet's charmèd gold; Nor the flashing bubbles swim, Gushing o'er the beaded brim; And the almond flings its shade Where the sunny waters played. The daylight comes and goes, The lily and the rose, And the voice, that haunts the gale, Sings a low and mournful wail, Like the shadow of a tone, Loved so well! but dead and gone; And for thee nor sight nor voice Bids thy soul again rejoice, Nevermore! Summer seems an idle thing, And thou know'st not it is Spring, Since the storm and frozen shower Passed upon the faded flower, Nevermore! Ah, wild word, Nevermore! Nevermore! ah, nevermore! On the lea the golden flowers Tell of memory's gentle hours, And the fields contented lie Underneath the purple sky; And the springing grass is sweet, In its vesture at thy feet; The fringèd lake lies still, In the shadow of the hill; Through his halls, in glory drest, Walked the brided sun to rest, And the pleasant stars look through The calm and holy blue; Liquid whispers, faint and soft, Stir the budding leaves aloft; Now and then, some sweet-tongued bird, From the copse, hard-by, is heard; Far away, a mellow tone, And the voice is Ocean's own,— Nevermore! weep nevermore! Leaves, that Autumn scattered, lying, Dearest things, forever dying, Say, thy language gives but tone To thy brother's stifled moan. Nevermore! weep nevermore! Lovely things, that round us rise, Are but shadows of the skies, Each an imaged beauty furled Round the inner spirit-world. Nevermore! oh, never weep, That she seemed to fall asleep! Calmed to peace, within thy breast, Let thy troubled fancies rest; Wringing heart-aches come no more, Nevermore! Bid the fretting tempest roar,— She hath found the quiet shore, And the golden flowers are sweet Round about her silvery feet, And the sunshine of her youth Floats on seas of perfect truth; No bewildering dreams arise On her soft and tranquil eyes, No brooding trouble throng, Nor deceit can do her wrong, And the sorrow and the pain Shall be nevermore again! Nevermore! Ah, sweet word, nevermore! Now dull despairs are dead, And a star is on thy head, Where thy locks are waving bright In the new celestial light; Hope forever shakes her wings, And a voice within thee sings; With an upward aspect now Looks thy meek and holy brow, And a glory and a joy Is thy solemn, sweet employ; Life immortal all before, And a shadow falls no more! Nevermore! Ah, sweet word, never more! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LITTLE GIRL LOST, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE TO SIR HENRY GOODYERE by BEN JONSON ANGEL OR WOMAN by THOMAS PARNELL PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 27. AS-SAMI'H by EDWIN ARNOLD ROSE D'AMOUR by MATHILDE BLIND INSPIRATION by GRACE HOLBROOK BLOOD THANKS TO SIR WALTER by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB |