The canon of Poe's poems has been established with some certainty, primarily through the work of Killis Campbell, Floyd Stovall and especially T. O. Mabbott. The accepted poems are here listed in alphabetically order by title. Variant names, sometimes assigned by editors other than Poe, are also listed. The first line of each poem is provided to assist in the identification of the poem. To avoid unnecessary duplication, the following abbreviations will be used:
TAOP - Tamerlane and Other Poems, Boston: Calvin F. S. Thomas, 1827Although not, strictly speaking, a poem, Poe's play "Politian" is written in verse, has generally been included with collections of his poetry, beginning with RAOP, and has been so included here. Words noted in brackets denote titles not given by Poe or other information added for clarification.
.
ATMP - Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems, Baltimore: Hatch & Dunning, 1829
.
POEMS - Poems, New York: Elam Bliss, 1831
.
RAOP - The Raven and Other Poems, New York: Wiley & Putnam, 1845
.
WORKS - The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe, New York: J. S Redfield, 1850-1856.
Check List of the Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe
(Part I: Accepted and Attributed Poems)
Scroll down, or select date: 1824 .1827
.1829 .1831 .1845
~~~ 1824~~~
1824 - about November (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Poetry"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A2)
First line: "Last night, with many cares and toils oppressed . . ."
Argument: This item exists in manuscript among the Ellis and Allan Papers at the Library of Congress. It was discovered by Hervey Allen and first published in his biography of Poe, Israfel: The Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe (1926). It is also included by T. O. Mabbott in his edition of Poe's poems (1968, pp. 5-6). A photographic reproduction of the MS is given by T. O. Mabbott, Poems, 1969, facing p. 582.
~~~ 1825 ~~~
1825 (or 1826) (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Oh, Tempora! Oh, Mores!"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (B3)
First line: "Oh Times! Oh Manners! It is my opinion . . ."
Argument: There has been much discussion of this lightweight bit of verse. Mabbott gives the date as "1825?" (Mabbott, Poems, 1968, p. 9).
~~~ 1827 ~~~
1827 - early to about September (PPA0000)
Item Title: "To Margaret"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A2)
First line: "Who hath seduced thee to this foul revolt . . ."
Argument: This item exists in manuscript.
1827 - about May 1 (PPA0000)
Item Title: "[To Octavia]"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A2)
First line: "When wit, and wine, and friends have met . . ."
Argument: This item exists in manuscript. It was first printed by Thomas Ollive Mabbott in a facsimile of Tamerlane and Other Poems (New York: Columbia University, 1941). A photographic reproduction of the MS is given by T. O. Mabbott, Poems, 1969, facing p. 352.
1827 - About June or July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Tamerlane"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "I have sent for thee, holy friar . . ." (1827)
First line: "Kind solace in a dying hour . . ." (1831)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is the title item of Poe's TAOP, and it is included in ATMP, POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. There are fragment of a manuscript, in Poe's hand, from 1828 ("Wilmer Manuscript").
1827 - About June or July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Song" (originally published as "To -- --")
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "I saw thee on the bridal day . . ." (1827)
First line: "I saw thee on thy bridal day . . ." (1828)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's TAOP, ATMP, POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. Poe also reprinted the poem in his Broadway Journal (Sept. 20, 1845). A manuscript of the poem exists, in Poe's hand, from 1828 ("Wilmer Manuscript").
1827 - About June or July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Dreams"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Oh! That my young life were a lasting dream . . ." (1827)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's TAOP. A manuscript of the poem exists, in Poe's hand, from 1828 ("Wilmer Manuscript"). Oddly, the poem was printed in the Baltimore North American for October 20, 1828, over the initials "W.H.P.," clearly a reference to Edgar's brother, William Henry Leonard Poe.
1827 - About June or July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Spirits of the Dead" (originally printed as "Visit of the
Dead")
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Thy soul shall find itself alone . . ." (1827)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's TAOP and ATMP. A manuscript of the poem exists,
in Poe's hand, from 1828 ("Wilmer Manuscript"). Poe also reprinted the
poem in Burton's Gentleman's Magazine for July 1839.
1827 - About June or July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Evening Star"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: " 'Twas noontide of summer . . ." (1827)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's TAOP.
1827 - About June or July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Imitation"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "A dark unfathom'd tide . . ." (1827)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's TAOP.
1827 - About June or July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "[Stanzas]" (originally published without a title)
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "In youth ahve I known one with whom the Earth . . ." (1827)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's TAOP.
1827 - About June or July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "A Dream" (originally published without a title)
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "A wilder'd being from my birth . . ." (1827)
First line: "In visions of the dark night . . ." (1829)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's TAOP, ATMP, and RAOP. Poe also printed the poem
in his Broadway Journal for August 16, 1845.
1827 - About June or July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "[The Happiest Day]" (originally published without a title)
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "The happiest day -- the happiest hour . . ." (1827)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's TAOP.
1827 - About June or July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "The Lake"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "In youth's spring, it was my lot . . ." (1827)
First line: "In spring of youth it was my lot . . ." (1829)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's TAOP, ATMP, POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. A manuscript
of the poem exists, in Poe's hand, from 1828 ("Wilmer Manuscript").
~~~ 1829 ~~~
1829 - about December (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Sonnet to Science" (originally published without a title)
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Science! Meet daughter of old Time thou art . . ." (1829)
First line: "Science! True daughter of old Time thou art . . ." (1841)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's ATMP, POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. Poe also printed the
poem in The Southern Literary Messenger for May 1836, in Graham's
Magazine for June 1841 and his Broadway Journal for August 2,
1845.
1829 - about December (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Al Aaraaf"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "O! Nothing earthly save the ray . . ." (1829)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's ATMP, POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. Poe printed an extract
of the poem in his essay "The Rationale of Verse," first published in The
Southern Literary Messenger for October 1848. He also included extracts
in his review of W. W. Lord's Poems in Graham's Magazine for February 1845
and in the manuscript of "A Reviewer Reviewed."
1829 - about December (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Romance" (originally published as "Preface")
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Romance who loves to nod and sing . . ." (1829)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's ATMP, POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. Poe also printed the
poem in his Broadway Journal for August 30, 1845.
1829 - about December (PPA0000)
Item Title: "To -- --"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Should my early life seem . . ." (1829)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's ATMP. In POEMS, several lines of the poem were
incorporated in the revised version of "Tamerlane," although they were
removed again in later versions.
1829 - about December (PPA0000)
Item Title: "To --" (originally published as "To -- --")
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "The bowers whereat, in dreams, I see . . ." (1829)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's ATMP and RAOP. Poe also printed the poem in his
Broadway
Journal for September 20, 1845.
1829 - about December (PPA0000)
Item Title: "To the River -- --"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Fair river! In thy bright, clear flow . . ." (1829)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's ATMP and RAOP. Poe also printed the poem in Burton's
Gentleman's Magazine for August 1839 and his Broadway Journal for
September 6, 1845.
1829 - about December (PPA0000)
Item Title: "To M----" (originally written as "Alone")
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "I heed not that my founts of bliss . . ." (@1828)
First line: "O! I care not that my earthly lot . . ." (1829)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's ATMP and RAOP.
1829 - about December (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Fairyland"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "I heed not that my founts of bliss . . ." (@1828)
First line: "O! I care not that my earthly lot . . ." (1829)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's ATMP, POEMS and RAOP.
1829 - about 1829 (PPA0000)
Item Title: "[Alone]" (The title on the manuscript is "Original")1829 - about 1829 (PPA0000)
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A2)
First line: "From childhood's hour I have not been . . ." (@1829)
Argument: Although it was never published during Poe's lifetime, there can be little doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It exists in manuscript. The source for this poem in an untitled, undated manuscript, signed "E. A. Poe" from the album of Lucy Holmes Balderston. The title was assigned by Eugene L. Didier in a somewhat modified reproduction of the manuscript printed in Scribner's Monthly (September, 1875). Didier's retouching brought early charges of forgery, although stylistic and handwriting analysis have since given the poem unopposed acceptance as by Poe. The manuscript is now in the collection of the Maryland Historical Society. (Another poem in this album, also in Edgar's hand, is apparently by Poe's brother, William Henry Poe.)
Title: "Acrostic, An" (@1829)
First Line: "Elizabeth, it is in vain you say . . ."
Status: Accepted
Argument: The source for this poem is an undated manuscript, assumed to be about 1829, signed "E. A. P." from an album owned by Poe's cousin Elizabeth Herring. It was first printed in a collection by J. H. Whitty (Poems, 1911, p. 141).
~~~ 1831 ~~~
1831 - about April (PPA0000)
Item Title: "To Helen"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Helen, thy beauty is to me . . ." (1831)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. Poe also reprinted the poem
in Graham's Magazine for September 1841.
1831 - about April (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Israfel"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "In Heaven a spirit doth dwell . . ." (1831)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. Poe also reprinted the poem
in Graham's Magazine for October 1841.
1831 - about April (PPA0000)
Item Title: "The City in the Sea" (originally published as "The Doomed
City.")
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Lo! Death hath rear'd himself a throne . . ." (1831)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. Poe also reprinted the poem
in the Southern Literary Messenger for August 1836 and his Broadway
Journal for August 30, 1845.
1831 - about April (PPA0000)
Item Title: "The Sleeper" (originally published as "Irene.")
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: " 'Tis now (so sings the soaring moon) . . ." (1831)
First line: "At midnight, in the month of June . . ." (1841)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem.
It is included in Poe's POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. Poe also reprinted the poem
in Graham's Magazine for September 1841.
1831 - about April (PPA0000)
Item Title: "To Helen"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Helen, thy beauty is to me . . ." (1831)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. Poe also reprinted the poem in the Southern Literary Messenger for May 1836 and his Broadway Journal for May 3, 1845.
1831 - about April (PPA0000)
Item Title: "A Paean"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "How shall the burial rite be read . . ." (1831)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's POEMS. Poe also reprinted the poem in the Southern Literary Messenger for January 1836.
1831 - about April (PPA0000)
Item Title: "The Valley of Unrest" (originally published as "The Valley of Nis")
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Far away -- far away . . ." (1831)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's POEMS, RAOP and WORKS. Poe also reprinted the poem in his Broadway Journal for September 6, 1845.
~~~ 1837 ~~~
1837 -
Title: "Ballad" (1837) (Also published as "Bridal Ballad" in 1845)
First Line: "The ring is on my hand . . ."
Status: Accepted, absolutely
Argument: This poem was first published by Poe in the Southern Literary Messenger for January 1837. It was reprinted several times, including Poe's own Broadway Journal and The Raven and Other Poems (1845).
Item Title: "The Conqueror Worm"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: ""Lo! 'tis a gala night . . . "
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS. This poem was first published in Graham's Magazine for January of 1843. It was later incorporated in Poe's short story "Ligeia." The poem was reprinted several times in various magazines, including the Philadelphia Saturday Museum and Poe's own Broadway Journal. It was also reprinted in The Raven and Other Poems (1845).
~~~ 1845 ~~~
1845 - about April (PPA0000)
Item Title: "The Raven"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Once upon midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary . . ." (1845)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS. The poem was first printed over the name "Quarles," a pseudonym Poe used only this one time.
@1833 (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Catholic Hymn"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "At morn -- at noon -- at twilight dim . . ." (1845)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS. The poem was first printed as part of Poe's tale "Morella," written about 1833 and published in the Southern Literary Messenger April 1835. In Poe's own copy of ROP, with his handwritten annotations and corrections, Poe struck out the word "Catholic."
1843 - February (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Lenore"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Ah, broken is the golden bowl! The spirit flown forever . . ." (18xx)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS. It was first published in The Pioneer for February 1843. Poe reprinted it in his Broadway Journal for August 16, 1845.
1833 (PPA0000)
Item Title: "The Coliseum"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Type of the antique Rome! Rich, reliquary . . ."
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS. This poem was first published in the Baltimore Saturday Visiter for October, 26, 1833. Poe had submitted it for the newspaper's literary contest. It was reprinted several times in various magazines, including the Southern Literary Messenger, the Saturday Evening Post and Poe's own Broadway Journal. It was also included in ROP. A manuscript of the poem from the album of Mary Estelle Herring (1841?) is now in the Koester Collection of the University of Texas.
18xx (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Sonnett -- to Zante"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "xxxxxxxxxx . . ." (18xx)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS.
18xx (PPA0000)
Item Title: "To One in Paradise"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First Line: "Thou wast all that to me, love . . ." (1845)
Alternate First Line: "Thou wast that all to me, love . . ." (revised by Poe, probably in 1849)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS. Poe's corrections to the text, made in his personal copy of RAOP, were not published until after his death.
18xx (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Eulalie"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx . . ." (18xx)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS.
1835 (PPA0000)
Item Title: "Politian"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. Five scenes from the play are included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS. The same scenes were first published in the Southern Literary Messenger for December 1835 and January 1836.
18xx (PPA0000)
Item Title: "The Haunted Palace"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First Line: "In the greenest of our valleys . . ."
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS.
1835 - July (PPA0000)
Item Title: "To F----" (1845)
Alternate Title: "To Mary" (1835)
Alternate Title: "To One Departed" (1842)
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Beloved! Amid the earnest woes . . ." (18xx)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS. The poem was first published in the Southern Literary Messenger for July 1835, and reprinted the poem in Graham's Magazine for March 1842 and his Broadway Journal for April 26, 1845.)
@1833 (PPA0000)
Item Title: "To F----s S. O----d" (F. S. O is Frances S. Osgood. Originally written as "To Elizabeth")
Alternate Title: "To Elizabeth"
Alternate Title: "Lines Written in an Album" (1835)
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "Would'st thou be loved? then let thy heart . . ." (@1833)
First line: "Thou would'st be loved? -- then let thy heart . . ." (1833)
Argument: There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. It is included in Poe's RAOP and WORKS.
1847 (PPA0000)
~~~ 1848 ~~~
1848 - May (PPA0000)
Item Title: "The Bells"
Attribution: Edgar Allan Poe (A1)
First line: "The Bells! -- ah, the bells . . ." (1848)
First line: "The Bells! -- hear the bells . . ." (1848)
First line: "Hear the sledges with the bells . . ." (1849)
Argument: Although not printed until shortly after Poe's death, there can be no doubt about the authenticity of this poem. Several manuscripts exist.
~~~ 1849 ~~~
1849 - May (PPA0000)
1849 - ??? (PPA0000)
~~~ End of Text ~~~
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