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Annabel Lee
"Annabel Lee" is the last complete poem composed by American author Edgar Allan Poe. Like many of Poe's poems, it explores the theme of the death of a beautiful woman. The narrator, who fell in love with Annabel Lee when they were young, has a love for her so strong that even angels are envious. He retains his love for her even after her death. There has been debate over who, if anyone, was the inspiration for "Annabel Lee". Though many women have been suggested, Poe's wife Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe is one of the more credible candidates. Written in 1849, it was not published until shortly after Poe's death that same year.
24 pages
First published October 9, 1849
44 people are currently reading
4111 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Allan Poe
9,897 books28.7k followersThe name Poe brings to mind images of murderers and madmen, premature burials, and mysterious women who return from the dead. His works have been in print since 1827 and include such literary classics as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Fall of the House of Usher. This versatile writer’s oeuvre includes short stories, poetry, a novel, a textbook, a book of scientific theory, and hundreds of essays and book reviews. He is widely acknowledged as the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre, but he made his living as America’s first great literary critic and theoretician. Poe’s reputation today rests primarily on his tales of terror as well as on his haunting lyric poetry.
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 749 reviews
September 19, 2020
One of my all time favorite poems of all time. A gorgeous love story darkened by loss and disapproving fathers.
I’m lucky enough to live near Charleston, and have visited the graveyard where Annabel Lee is buried several times. For those who may not know the local lore, she was from a fairly prominent Charleston family. Her father did not approve of her being with Poe, as writers at that time were basically considered no better than unemployed, not to mention his penchant for alcohol. Poe had to travel at one point and while he was away, Annabel was struck with an illness that took her young life. When she was buried, her father was so spiteful with hatred towards Poe that he didn’t want Poe to be able to visit her gravesite and properly say his goodbyes and mourn, so he paid for six elaborate large stones, unmarked, placed in the graveyard, and to this day, no one knows which one she truly is buried under.
I’m lucky enough to live near Charleston, and have visited the graveyard where Annabel Lee is buried several times. For those who may not know the local lore, she was from a fairly prominent Charleston family. Her father did not approve of her being with Poe, as writers at that time were basically considered no better than unemployed, not to mention his penchant for alcohol. Poe had to travel at one point and while he was away, Annabel was struck with an illness that took her young life. When she was buried, her father was so spiteful with hatred towards Poe that he didn’t want Poe to be able to visit her gravesite and properly say his goodbyes and mourn, so he paid for six elaborate large stones, unmarked, placed in the graveyard, and to this day, no one knows which one she truly is buried under.
January 3, 2026
“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,”
Annabel Lee is a beautiful and poignantly haunting poem of a man’s love, a love so strong that even the seraphs—fuelled with envy—took her away from the living.
Though Poe is known for his gothic short stories, his ability to step away from that style and create a touching, potent, yet haunting poem is what makes him a master of his craft.
4.5 stars
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,”
Annabel Lee is a beautiful and poignantly haunting poem of a man’s love, a love so strong that even the seraphs—fuelled with envy—took her away from the living.
Though Poe is known for his gothic short stories, his ability to step away from that style and create a touching, potent, yet haunting poem is what makes him a master of his craft.
4.5 stars
April 30, 2020
Book Review
Edgar Allan Poe is one of my three favorite poets and short story writers. In this poem, Annabel Lee, Poe pontificates on the love between two people, which suffers upon the death of one. Love is powerful. Love can also be dark. All that you'd expect from the mysterious suspense is firmly planted in this poem, but under a romantic guise; it's different than his other works, but you can still tell it was written by him. Published in the 1849, it may be his most haunting poem; it was also released just around his death. He passed away at 40 years old, young even for 175 years ago. Many think the poem is about his relationship with his own young wife. I couldn't say. All I know is that rhyme and the staccato temperament in both the words and the timing is top notch. Roll the words off your lips, feel the energy, and absorb the pain. It's how to best understand Mr. Poe.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
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Edgar Allan Poe is one of my three favorite poets and short story writers. In this poem, Annabel Lee, Poe pontificates on the love between two people, which suffers upon the death of one. Love is powerful. Love can also be dark. All that you'd expect from the mysterious suspense is firmly planted in this poem, but under a romantic guise; it's different than his other works, but you can still tell it was written by him. Published in the 1849, it may be his most haunting poem; it was also released just around his death. He passed away at 40 years old, young even for 175 years ago. Many think the poem is about his relationship with his own young wife. I couldn't say. All I know is that rhyme and the staccato temperament in both the words and the timing is top notch. Roll the words off your lips, feel the energy, and absorb the pain. It's how to best understand Mr. Poe.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
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January 16, 2022
كان ذلك قبل سنين عديدة
في مملكة تقع على البحر
كانت هناك فتاة تعرفونها
باسم آنابيل لي؛
وهذه الفتاة لم تعش إلا من أجل أي شيء
سوى أن تحبني وأحبها
كنت طفلاً وكانت طفلة
في هذه المملكة الواقعة على البحر؛
لكننا حبنا أكبر من الحب،
أنا وفتاتي آنابيل لي؛
حبّاً جعل ملائكة السماء المقربين ذوي الأجنحة في السماء
يطمعون بي وبها.
في مملكة تقع على البحر
كانت هناك فتاة تعرفونها
باسم آنابيل لي؛
وهذه الفتاة لم تعش إلا من أجل أي شيء
سوى أن تحبني وأحبها
كنت طفلاً وكانت طفلة
في هذه المملكة الواقعة على البحر؛
لكننا حبنا أكبر من الحب،
أنا وفتاتي آنابيل لي؛
حبّاً جعل ملائكة السماء المقربين ذوي الأجنحة في السماء
يطمعون بي وبها.
September 27, 2025
“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;
- Edgar Allan Poe, Annabel Lee
The telltale heart is my favorite of Poe's. But this is my favorite poem.
I can't even -- I can't even SAY much. It is so breathtakingly haunting, so visceral, so poignant and bewitchingly gorgeous, that anyone who has not read this should out whatever book you're reading down and read it.
I have heard he wrote this to his wife but don't know if that's been verified as true or not. I also have rarely seen a more darkly romantic poem. It's ethereal and the descriptive prose made me want to be there.
It's so descriptive. You can feel the sadness and also feel the evening breeze and the sea sweeping over sand close by. What a backdrop to such love and such tragedy.
Moving. Stunning. A work of art. And it takes a few minutes to read. If a short poem such as this, can move one that deeply the writer of such a poem deserves to be called a genius.
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
- Edgar Allan Poe, Annabel Lee
The telltale heart is my favorite of Poe's. But this is my favorite poem.
I can't even -- I can't even SAY much. It is so breathtakingly haunting, so visceral, so poignant and bewitchingly gorgeous, that anyone who has not read this should out whatever book you're reading down and read it.
I have heard he wrote this to his wife but don't know if that's been verified as true or not. I also have rarely seen a more darkly romantic poem. It's ethereal and the descriptive prose made me want to be there.
It's so descriptive. You can feel the sadness and also feel the evening breeze and the sea sweeping over sand close by. What a backdrop to such love and such tragedy.
Moving. Stunning. A work of art. And it takes a few minutes to read. If a short poem such as this, can move one that deeply the writer of such a poem deserves to be called a genius.
September 21, 2022
Lo he leído ya tantas veces este año que es de mis poemas favoritos.
Realmente no soy de leer poemas, porque si bien entiendo que la intención de estos está en la musicalidad y la emoción que transmiten a veces me resultan muy alegóricos por lo tanto casi incomprensibles. En este caso, no hay nada que buscar por detrás, "Annabel Lee" es un poema casi que escrito literalmente y lo bonito es que cuando lo leo siempre me imagino toda una historia trágica por detrás que merece ser contada en prosa, pero de momento me alegro leyendo y releyendo esto cuantas veces requiera. He conectado mucho con su composición.
Realmente no soy de leer poemas, porque si bien entiendo que la intención de estos está en la musicalidad y la emoción que transmiten a veces me resultan muy alegóricos por lo tanto casi incomprensibles. En este caso, no hay nada que buscar por detrás, "Annabel Lee" es un poema casi que escrito literalmente y lo bonito es que cuando lo leo siempre me imagino toda una historia trágica por detrás que merece ser contada en prosa, pero de momento me alegro leyendo y releyendo esto cuantas veces requiera. He conectado mucho con su composición.
October 7, 2016
A few of my GR friends have quoted verses of this poem, so I won't do that, but give yourself a treat; look this up online and take a few minutes to read. It's beautifully written and quite romantic in a tragic sense.
August 12, 2008
So exquisite and bittersweet is this poem, my comments don't do it justice. I have included it below:
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 winged 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 kinsman 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 the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
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 winged 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 kinsman 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 the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
December 29, 2025
Wonderful poem. Beautiful and sad at the same time.
Cudowny wiersz. Piękny i smutny jednocześnie.
Cudowny wiersz. Piękny i smutny jednocześnie.
October 18, 2023
beautiful
July 3, 2015
آخر قصائد بو
وأحلى مرثاة قرأتها في حياتي
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 winged 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 kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulcher
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 the sepulcher there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
August 2, 2019
Pocos poemas tienen la cualidad de provocarte miedo, y lo sucedido a Anabel Lee sin dudas me hizo experimentar esa sensación.
Tan oscuro, tan lúgubre, te pierdes en su mundo, en su cabeza, en su dolor, pobre Anabel Lee.
Tan oscuro, tan lúgubre, te pierdes en su mundo, en su cabeza, en su dolor, pobre Anabel Lee.
February 10, 2022
A sweet love poem with a rather morbid ending.
November 16, 2017
5 PERFECTION STARS
OMG este poema.
OMG este poema.
November 24, 2016
But we loved with a love that was more than love
November 23, 2017
Poe might tell you that this poem is like life...it starts out as a fairytale and deteriorates into a horror story. I see it primarily as an attempt to explain the intensity of love and how it can endure and conquer even the unconquerable.
First, there is the great awe of being loved, of being innocent and free. Annabel Lee is known and beloved by all, but she only loves him. You can sense his amazement in having her love, but at this point in the poem he is deserving of it, for he is innocent as well:
I was a child and she was child,
In this kingdom by the sea:
But we loved with a love that was more than love--
I and my Annabel Lee;
In myth, the jealousy of the gods is always destructive to humans, and Poe uses that device to account for his loss of his love. Of course, with her goes his innocence and the kingdom becomes a bleak and tormented place.
While many focus on the bizarre and almost horrific image at the end of the poem, I think this is more about the transcendent power of love and death's inability to annihilate it. He is able to hold on to her in his mind and his dreams. If he lies down with her figuratively, he is winning over death; if he lies down with her literally, than death has won for he is mad. Either way, love has won, for it endures.
I have read this poem so many times that I can almost quote it by rote. It never fails to awaken something in me, a kind of mood, a sort of longing; and it always makes me think of those whom I have loved and lost and who are never that far away from my heart.
First, there is the great awe of being loved, of being innocent and free. Annabel Lee is known and beloved by all, but she only loves him. You can sense his amazement in having her love, but at this point in the poem he is deserving of it, for he is innocent as well:
I was a child and she was child,
In this kingdom by the sea:
But we loved with a love that was more than love--
I and my Annabel Lee;
In myth, the jealousy of the gods is always destructive to humans, and Poe uses that device to account for his loss of his love. Of course, with her goes his innocence and the kingdom becomes a bleak and tormented place.
While many focus on the bizarre and almost horrific image at the end of the poem, I think this is more about the transcendent power of love and death's inability to annihilate it. He is able to hold on to her in his mind and his dreams. If he lies down with her figuratively, he is winning over death; if he lies down with her literally, than death has won for he is mad. Either way, love has won, for it endures.
I have read this poem so many times that I can almost quote it by rote. It never fails to awaken something in me, a kind of mood, a sort of longing; and it always makes me think of those whom I have loved and lost and who are never that far away from my heart.
March 18, 2022
I don't normally enjoy poetry but damn this poem is the truth. I read it....and then reread it...and then I read it a 3rd time.
Also I'm in a reading slump so I'm reading poetry to feel accomplished.
Also I'm in a reading slump so I'm reading poetry to feel accomplished.
October 20, 2013
Inspired by the creepy season, I have been reading Edgar Allan Poe's biography by Jeffrey Meyers. One of the interesting tidbits that came up was that he married his first cousin, Virginia Clemm, when she was only 13 years old. Virginia was an attractive girl with a well rounded figure and the appearance of a more mature woman. She had a gentle nature and aspired to be a skilled musician and singer.
In a tearful letter to his Aunt Maria, Virginia's mother, Poe swore his fervent devotion to Virginia, so tormented was he that she might leave him. After secretly marrying in September 1935, Poe, then 27 years old, publicly married Virginia on May 16th, 1836; she had not quite reached her 14th year. Poe declared passionately that he loved Virginia, although throughout his married years he did not appear that ardent. Virginia was said to have loved Poe first as a brother or cousin, but eventually grew to love him as a husband and lover.
Sadly, in 1847, Virginia died at the very young age of 25 years from Tuberculosis, the same illness that robbed Poe of his mother, Eliza Poe. Poe was devastated. The impact of the deaths of his loved ones by the same disease are clearly reflected in his poems. While The Raven might illuminate Poe's constant fear of the "messenger of death", Ulalume and Annabel Lee were undoubtedly inspired by Virginia's life. In May 1849, he completed the latter, and although many of Poe's other lady loves had claimed it was, in part, about them, Annabel Lee referenced in the lines, " she was a child," and " my life and my bride" undeniably would have been Virginia.
The seemingly fairytale quality would suggest that it was a loving tribute to the gentle, fragile Virginia, however inadequate a consolation to his broken heart.
In a tearful letter to his Aunt Maria, Virginia's mother, Poe swore his fervent devotion to Virginia, so tormented was he that she might leave him. After secretly marrying in September 1935, Poe, then 27 years old, publicly married Virginia on May 16th, 1836; she had not quite reached her 14th year. Poe declared passionately that he loved Virginia, although throughout his married years he did not appear that ardent. Virginia was said to have loved Poe first as a brother or cousin, but eventually grew to love him as a husband and lover.
Sadly, in 1847, Virginia died at the very young age of 25 years from Tuberculosis, the same illness that robbed Poe of his mother, Eliza Poe. Poe was devastated. The impact of the deaths of his loved ones by the same disease are clearly reflected in his poems. While The Raven might illuminate Poe's constant fear of the "messenger of death", Ulalume and Annabel Lee were undoubtedly inspired by Virginia's life. In May 1849, he completed the latter, and although many of Poe's other lady loves had claimed it was, in part, about them, Annabel Lee referenced in the lines, " she was a child," and " my life and my bride" undeniably would have been Virginia.
The seemingly fairytale quality would suggest that it was a loving tribute to the gentle, fragile Virginia, however inadequate a consolation to his broken heart.
December 15, 2020
do i write an analysis on why i love this poem orrr submit my missing assignments???
June 2, 2017
Loved it...........!!!
I wish these kinda love really exist now...
The writing style is so captivating and very intense...And have stricken where it suppose to be stricken.
Beautiful Annabel Lee..
I wish these kinda love really exist now...
The writing style is so captivating and very intense...And have stricken where it suppose to be stricken.
Beautiful Annabel Lee..
November 25, 2016
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.
This is so beautiful , so romantic and so tragic
Thank you Cassandra Clare for introducing me to this beauty.I love that it has so many chapter titles for Lady Midnight .
Totally Loved it
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.
This is so beautiful , so romantic and so tragic
Thank you Cassandra Clare for introducing me to this beauty.I love that it has so many chapter titles for Lady Midnight .
Totally Loved it
April 14, 2017
The poem by Edgar Allan Poe set, by the artist, Gilles Tibo, in the 1930s on the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec. I reread this because I am reading all these gothic texts for a class on madness, and we had already read “The Fall of the House of Usher.” So this is a gothic romantic text. Obsessive, all-encompassing love. There’s some question about what “the wind” might be that takes her life. And it’s not so much death that she experiences as she is “shut her up in a sepulchre,” as if they were eternally together in spite of the death. Or buried alive! There’s that notion that the angels, “her highborn kingsmen,” killed her so they could have her instead of him. But then he never gets over her loss, Ever. The “sepulchre” is here conceived as a pale ghost ship by Tibo, whose playful, then ethereal, art is lovely. A classic gothic text about eternal love and grief.
Annabel Lee
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 winged 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 kinsman 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 the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
Annabel Lee
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 winged 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 kinsman 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 the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
November 25, 2016
"But we loved with a love that was more than love"
*sighs deeply* this might be the most beautifully tragic poem I have ever read. Bonus points for you Mr Poe. You're creepy sometimes, but I like you.
March 4, 2025
in fifth grade, my language arts teacher read this poem to us. half the class was traumatized.
March 19, 2021
5 stars
I know everyone has read this poem, but I read it properly for the first time today and holy fuck was it beautiful. Seriously, this poem made me lie in bed and almost cry because it’s devastating yet filled with so much love and yearning. Put this shit on my tombstone pls
I know everyone has read this poem, but I read it properly for the first time today and holy fuck was it beautiful. Seriously, this poem made me lie in bed and almost cry because it’s devastating yet filled with so much love and yearning. Put this shit on my tombstone pls
“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.”
October 28, 2023
One of my all time favourite poems
October 9, 2020
Annabel Lee es el más sentido de todos los poemas de Edgar Allan Poe, dado que está dedicado a su fallecida esposa, Virginia Clemm, su Sissie, que en realidad era su prima de 13 y con la que se casó en 1837. Luego de la muerte de Virgina Poe nunca más volvió a ser el mismo y en cierto modo, murió un poquito con ella también...
June 22, 2025
We loved with a love that was more than love
This poem broke my heart and the fact that Google says Edgar Allan Poe wrote this 'two years after his wife died of tuberculosis at age 24' does not help much.
May 27, 2025
"And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me."
Wholesome and tragic.
Than to love and be loved by me."
Wholesome and tragic.
July 26, 2020
I don't read poems and this was my first, probably because one of my favourite series, The dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare has quotes form this poem in it and I enjoyed that book so very much! This poem is beautiful and you guys should give it a read, it goes like:
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 winged 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 kinsman 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 the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
A round of applause for Mr. Poe, you may be creepy sometimes but this poem was beautiful, especially the last paragraph!
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 winged 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 kinsman 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 the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
A round of applause for Mr. Poe, you may be creepy sometimes but this poem was beautiful, especially the last paragraph!
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