∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD,
Those lines from the immortalized Edgar A. Poe, which were published in our last issue, were submitted to one of our distinguished American poets, who made some alterations in the manuscript, which were followed by the compositor. Since their publication we have received the following note, purporting, as will be perceived, to emanate from the Spirit-author, together with the accompanying note from our esteemed correspondent, R. H. Brown, and a corrected copy of the poem, to all of which we cheerfully give place. — Ed.
My Dear Friend —
Please tell your type-setters, who evidently tried to improve my verses, that the true poetic measure is not counted on the fingers. It is the ear alone which forms its melody. E. A. POE.
FRIEND BRITTAN — As several very palpable blunders were made in printing the Spirit verses, sent by me, and republished in the Telegraph of last week, I will be much obliged to you if you will reprint them.
The last verse was completely spoiled. Not only was the measure disregarded’ but even the rules of grammar violated.
The verses should read as below. I wish them printed as given by the Spirit. Yours truly, R. H. BROWN.
Shut out from the beautiful realms of the day,
In a region both gloomy and dire,
And right in the jaws of the terrible way
That leads to the kingdom of fire.
Down in the depths of the undermost world.
Shut out from the light of the day,
With a mountain of darkness high over me hurled,
My spirit despairingly lay.
Darkly I wandered, forlorn and forsaken,
Over the dismal and night-shaded plains,
My soul with a tempest of passion was shaken,
And shrouded in torment like Cain's.
Then came an angel appareled in light,
With love in her luminous eyes; ‘
Hope, like a star, arose on my sight,
As she pointed the way to the skies.
A chorus of music came down from above,
As I earnestly gazed on the sky,
And I heard a sweet voice in accents of love
Entreatingly calling on high.
Then out of the darkness and torture and night —
The cloud of terrestrial woes —
Up into the beautiful kingdom of light,
Released by an angel, I rose.
There along with my long lost — loving-hearted —
The angel whose name is Lenore,
Dwelleth my spirit — and we shall be parted —
I and the angel — nevermore.
EDGAR A. POE.
[Note: The earlier form of the poem, from the Spiritual Telegraph of July 14, 1855, p. 42, col. 4:]
MORE SPIRIT POETRY.
Friend Brittan:
At a meeting of our circle last evening, I was entranced and impressed to repeat the following verses. They claim to be dictated by the spirit of Edgar A. Poe, and are descriptive of his departure from the earth-sphere. The verses were taken down by one of the circle as they were spoken. Those who deny that these verses were composed by the arisen spirit of Edgar A. Poe, will at least be forced to admit the existence of an active living poe-etic inspiration.
Yours for truth and true religion,
R. H. BROWN.
Detroit, July 2, 1855.
Shut out from the beautiful realms of the day,
In a region both gloomy and dire,
And right in the jaws of the terrible way
That leads to the kingdom of fire.
Down in the depths of the undermost world,
Shut out from the light of the day,
With a mountain of darkness high over me hurled,
My spirit despairingly lay.
Darkly I wandered, forlorn and forsaken,
O’er dismal and night-shaded plains,
My soul with a tempest of passion was shaken,
And shrouded in torment like Cain's.
And then came an angel appareled in light,
With love in her luminous eyes;
And Hope, like a star, arose on my sight,
As she pointed the way to the skies.
A chorus of music came down from above,
As I earnestly gazed on the sky,
And I heard a sweet whisper, in accents of love
Entreatingly calling on high.
Then out of the darkness and torture and night —
The cloud of terrestrial woes —
Up into the beautiful kingdom of light,
Released by an angel, I rose.
And there with my lost loving-hearted,
The angel whose name is Lenore,
I dwell, and we ne’er shall be parted,
The angel and I, nevermore!
EDGAR A. POE.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Notes:
Samuel Byron Brittan (died 1883) was a Universalist minister and the co-editor of the Spiritual Telegraph.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
[S:0 - ST, 1855] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - A Poe Bookshelf - From the Spirit World (R. H. Brown, 1855)