Annabel Lee - A poem by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe - Annabel Lee

It was many and many a year ago, 
In a kingdom by the sea, 
That a maiden there lived whom you may know 
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;-- 
And this maiden she lived with no other thought 
Than to love and be loved by me. 
She was a child and I was a child, 
In this kingdom by the sea, 
But we loved with a love that was more than love-- 
I and my Annabel Lee-- 
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven 
Coveted her and me. 

And this was the reason that, long ago, 
In this kingdom by the sea, 
A wind blew out of a cloud by night 
Chilling my Annabel Lee; 
So that her high-born kinsman came 
And bore her away from me, 
To shut her up in a sepulchre 
In this kingdom by the sea. 

The angels, not half so happy in Heaven, 
Went envying her and me:-- 
Yes! that was the reason (as all men know, 
In this kingdom by the sea) 
That the wind came out of a cloud, chilling 
And killing my Annabel Lee. 

But our love it was stronger by far than the love 
Of those who were older than we-- 
Of many far wiser than we- 
And neither the angels in Heaven above, 
Nor the demons down under the sea, 
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul 
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee:-- 

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams 
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; 
And the stars never rise but I see the bright eyes 
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; 
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side 
Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride, 
In her sepulchre there by the sea-- 
In her tomb by the side of the sea.

Added: on May 30th, 2007 at 8:22 AM | Viewed: 25300 times | Comments and analysis of Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe Comments (56)

Annabel Lee - Comments and Information
Poet: Edgar Allan Poe Poem: Annabel Lee Year: Published/Written in 1849 Poem of the Day: Oct 2 2000 Comment 56 of 56, added on October 1st, 2007 at 6:39 PM. Sorry - I commented on this poem and thought the lengthy comment was from Genrthy, but it was actually from Stevan Fallon Dunn. Cayla from United States Comment 55 of 56, added on October 1st, 2007 at 6:20 PM. Thank you for talking about the Virginia-Annabelle Lee-Lenore connection. When I read "The Raven" in school, I couldn't help but assume Lenore was based upon Poe's wife/cousin, Virginia Clemms, and likewise, that Annabel Lee was also based upon Virginia. I was taught in school, both when reading "Annabel Lee" and "the Raven," that the female characters in both stories were written with Virginia in mind. I hold true to that statement. I don't know who wouldn't think Poe would write about Virginia after her death, so it only makes sense he created female characters based on her; from what I understand, for the most part such female characters die, as the actual Virginia did. I don't see how Virginia could be unrelated to Lenore and Annabel Lee. Cayla from United States Comment 54 of 56, added on May 30th, 2007 at 8:22 AM. I don't know how many times i have read this poem. It is sad but i like it because it is romantic. Sometimes, it makes me cry. I like the rhythm. It is a good poem. Gerthy from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Annabel Lee, has received 56 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Edgar Allan Poe with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Edgar Allan Poe Poem: Annabel Lee Year: Published/Written in 1849 Last read: May 12 2008, 1:48AM Poem of the Day: Oct 2 2000 Viewed 25300 times. Added on May 30th, 2007 at 8:22 AM.

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