Reading and Reviewing of Annabel lee by Edgar Allan Poe
I recently came across this book: Poems to See By: A Comic Artist Interprets Great Poetry. It is a book that contains brilliant comical illustrations for about 24 classic poems. Amongst many of the wonderful poems that were illustrated in the book, I was especially intrigued by this particular poem - Annabel Lee.
Annabel Lee is a lyrical poem that was written in the year 1849 which co-incidentally, was the year Edgar passed away. The poem tells of two lovers who shared a love that was so strong, that even angels envied them: One, a beautiful woman named Annabel Lee, whom had passed away and the other, the grieving speaker whom is most likely a reflection of Poe himself.
Over the time it was published in October 1849 till this very day, it has become one of Edgar's most beloved works of his rather extended gothic romantic style. Here in this poem bares some of the most beautiful and iconic lines of all of Poe's works.
Throughout Edgar's life he had known mostly tragedy, sorrow and despair which seems to just have been an inspiration for his writings. One can only stop to imagine the tragedy he must have felt in order to write some of his most darkest works.
Fortunately, Edgar found some solace in the love that he had shared with his then 13 year old cousin Eliza Clemm, who he married at the age of 27. Their 11 year relationship however, was believed to be one more of a brotherly, sisterly kind. After Eliza's death in 1847, it is believed that Annabel Lee was written as a sort of tribute or love letter to his lost love.
I can say with all my heart, that I absolutely enjoyed this poem just as much as I enjoyed the comical illustrations that accompanied it in the book! I must also mention that I knew very well about the poem - Annabel Lee. Yes!... it is in fact in my Top 3 best poems by Edgar Allan Poe.
Every time i read this poem I can't help but feel a sense of longing, melancholy, romance, and fairytale.
The hypnotic rhythms and song- like lyric rhymes Edgar uses in this poem is as masterful as it is beautiful! I highly recommend EVERYBODY to read this poem. Again, you don't have to be a fan of poetry. No!... just read it carefully, with an open heart, and with an open mind. And perhaps.... just perhaps, you will find a new enjoyment and enlightenment in this little fantasy Edgar Allan brings to you with this poem....
You can listen to an audio narration of the poem down below by me. And yes...I am aware I spelt "Annabell" incorrectly.
Music by Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2(2nd Mvm)
Below you can also read the comical illustration by Julian Peters from her book Poems to See By: A Comic Artist Interprets Great Poetry.
You can find this comic along with 23 other classic poetry adaptations in the book, Poems to See By: A Comic Artist Interprets Great Poetry (Plough Publishing, 2020): https://www.amazon.com/Poems-See-Artist-Interprets-Poetry/dp/087486318X
Annabel Lee
by EDGAR ALLAN POE
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.
I was a child and she 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 wingèd 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, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsmen 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 the cloud by night,
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 feel 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 sounding sea.
Thank you so much for reading!Until next time!...And keep exploring.
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