Text: Edgar Allan Poe to Rufus Wilmot Griswold — April 19, 1845 (LTR-196)


∞∞∞∞∞∞∞


Apr. 19

Dear Griswold,

I return the proof, with many thanks for your attentions. The poems look quite as well in the short metre as in the long, and I am quite content as it is. You will perceive, however, that some of the lines have been divided at the wrong place. I have marked them right in the proof; but lest there should be any misapprehension, I copy them as they should be:

Stanza 11.

Till the dirges of his Hope the

Melancholy burden bore

Stanza 12.

Straight I wheel's a cushion’d seat in

Front of bird and bust and door;

Stanza 12 — again

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly

Gaunt and ominous bird of yore

Stanza 13.

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now

Burn’d into my bosom's core;

Near the beginning of the poem you have “nodded” spelt “nooded”. In the “Sleeper” the line

Forever with unclosed eye

should read

Forever with unopen’d eye

Is it possible to make the alteration?

Very sincerely yours
Poe.

PS) I presume you understand that in the repetition of my Lecture on the Poets (in N. Y.) I left out all that was offensive to yourself?


∞∞∞∞∞∞∞


Notes:

None.


∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

[S:0 - MS, 18xx] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - Letters - Poe to R. W. Griswold (LTR196/RCL534)