Text: N. P. Willis, “Poe’s Poets and Poetry of America,” Evening Mirror (New York, NY), February 27, 1845, vol. 1, no. 122, p. 2, col. 2

[page 2, column 2, continued:]

EDGAR POE’S LECTURE. — the decapitation of the criminal who did not know his head was off till it fell into his hand as he was bowling is a Poe-kerish similitude, but it conveys an idea of the Damascene slicing of the critical blade of Mr. Poe. On Friday night we are to have his “Lecture on the Poets of America,” and those who would witness fine carving will probably be there. Besides the divisions of sensitive membrane, however, there will be many a bright flash from the keen temper of the blade itself, and altogether the feast will be Epicurean to all but the sufferers.