The Raven: The Finale
"Prophet!"
said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
-
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed
thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert
land enchanted-
On this home by Horror haunted- tell me truly, I
implore-
Is there- is there balm
in Gilead?-
tell me- tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven,
"Nevermore."
"Prophet!" said I, "thing
of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that
bends above us- by that God we both adore-
Tell this soul with
sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It
shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Clasp
a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth
the Raven, "Nevermore."
"Be that word our
sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting-
"Get
thee back into the tempest and
the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave
no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave
my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy
beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth
the Raven, "Nevermore."
And
the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is
sitting
On the pallid bust
of Pallas just
above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a
demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming
throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow
that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted- nevermore!