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.
Leave a guest comment (subject to review)
Comments
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From guest Annie (contact)
This is a great poem! I'm preaty sure im gonna name my daughter Annabel Lee!lool -
ANABELLE LEE
From guest southern rider (contact)
As with MANY southern treasures this poem WAS written for ANNABELLE LEE RAVENEL during his short time in Charleston SC Stolen By the carpet baggers that followed the civil war It is now being disputed by many NORTHERN sources. But I ask why would a city as OLD and as SOUTHERN as Charleston Care if Poe was smitten with Southern Aristocracy. And hold this legend for 100+ years To make a claim on a NORTHERN POET? COME ON? -
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From guest Maria Theresa E. Liu (contact)
When I was in 6th grade our teacher taught this poem to us. I was so touched. I feel very sad for the love the author must have felt for the girl and their supposed union that abruptly ended. Sometimes I feel sorry for him, as it seems that he has never had the desire to move on. It maybe idealistic to some and yet I will always consider it the greatest love story of all time. -
A big hand for Poe
I love this poem! I think i might actually name my daughter Annabel Lee....lol -
like i said before edger is the man! he's one of my favorites. this poem is true to the many people ; me my self, who have experienced this his thought his feelings. great awsome poem by the man him self.
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great!
From guest ahmet elhan (contact)
this poem is just terrific... i even don't know how many times i have read it so far.. but one thing is obivous i am gona go on reading again and again... -
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WOW
From guest BESTPOEMFAN! (contact)
THIS POEM IS PHENOMINAL AND SHOULD BE PUBLISHED EVERYWHERE POWERFUL!!!!
LOVED POEM
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This poem brought tears to my eyes as it plucked at my heart strings. Hauntingly beautiful, I am truly touched. My Annabel Lee (Lori) died on March 9th of this year. This is the first Poem by Poe I have ever read. Hum, coincidence or providence? I don't know, but I'm the richer for reading it!
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The most beautiful love story
From guest lejunna (contact)
A love story that really has no end. You can feel there love lasting forever and ever. Beyond the after life and beyond that if any way possible. -
This has been one of my favorite poems for about 40 years. "In her tomb by the souding sea." What a beautiful and original word choice "sounding"! The internal rhyme is so musical and haunting.
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Just Amazing
From guest Thach Man (contact)
This poem is just beautiful, it means so much even though, they had a huge age difference, they love between them was so powerful in this poem that Poe wrote that you could actually feel it. If you absolutely love your partner this how strong love should be. -
i read this poem once before...it struck me with a lose feeling. i felt empty and uncomplete in my life...it is weird to get that from such a beautiful poem...but it came...and is still there somewhere deep inside me...
i read to get inspired. i am inspired by what i read, feel, and by my own life...(sorry lost train of thought for a second) i wonder what was going through his head when he wrote this poem...what inspried him to write it..tis a lovely poem as all his poems are to me.
"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." -
"true love can not be stoped only delyed for a while"
-weasly from the princes bride.
This is my favorite poem by Poe, and so it will always be. -
What a way with words.
These passionate words could woo a womans mind and heart. Such depth of love and passion, and such heartbreak. I felt like crying...my heart hurts. -
POETRY LOVER
From guest LOVING POETRY (contact)
THIS IS MY FAVOORITE POEM AFTER "I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS" BY MAYA ANGELOU. -
From guest emily (contact)
i loce this poem just because it shows how much passion you can say through a poem -
how
From guest shane (contact)
I have to memorize this poem for the eighth grade and I really need help. Do you have any advice for me of how to remember this poem? -
CRYED
From guest I suck at poetry help please (contact)
Well when I read tis poem for thee first time I actuallied cryed now as read it over and over I wonder why I cryed I cant but help think the reason stroke me to cry but now as I sit here and read it I cry once more -
Annabell Lee Poem
From guest Ken Reick (contact)
Some commenters were wondering about the origin of that beautiful poem: Poe married his first cousin, Virgina Clem, when she was 13 years old and he was 27. She put her age on the marrige license as 21. When she was 19, she contracted tuberculosis and died at age 25. Poe was devastated and took to heavy drinking in his sorrow. This poem is about her and his undying love for her. -
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Thank you for this information about the poem Annabell Lee Poem...it is so sad it just breaks your heart.
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I Have A ?
From guest jessica joe smith (contact)
i was told in class today that i have to write a paraghraph on why i think poe wrote this poem (what was his meaning?) can anyone help me??? if you can leave a coment on this web page for me to read. thank you! -
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http://www.eapoe.org/
This link will take you to the 'Poe Society' web page - all the information you need you will find here.
~Von - Oldpoetry
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I have always loved this poem. It's a very eerie, creepy love story. Poe is by far my favorite poet. He brings to life in such detail and with such sadness these emotions.
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Beautiful, GOTHIC POETRY
From guest Honey (contact)
I am in love with this poem it is full of melochony and romance, the impression that i get from the poem is that his wife (annabel lee) died and her tomb, as it were, is by the sea, i can feel the sadness as if i had lost someone close to me, how he must feel everytime he hears the sea, sadness. Do you agree??? x x x -
From guest freespirit51 (contact)
This is a beautiful and loving piece of oldpoetry. I have never read any Oldpoetry and never anything from Edgar Allen Poe. Whenever I think of him I think of The Raven and never such beautiful love as this, Annabel Lee. Ahhh...to aspire to this. -
?!!?
From guest Bernard (contact)
I was asked in class to answer this question and I still don't understand it. "Edgar llen Poe often created unreliable narrators or speakors, both in his fiction and poetry. In a paragraph, eplain why you can't entirely trsut the speaker in this poem. Be sure to consider his behavior and his account of what happened to Annabel Lee." I don't understand this at all!? Can anyone explain? PLEASE! I felt like an idiot! lol -
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Guest Bernard.
For me their are so many indications in this poem that allow me to decide on the writers reliability and truthfulness.
Ask yourself questions in your report and then answer them. That way you will be able to make up your mind.
Here are some to consider.
Is the author writing about the mature love of two people? How do you know?
How old are the two people being written about at the time of their meeting? Where does it tell you?
Is the writer using normal or overly exagerated language? Give examples.
What are the respective social classes of the teo people? How can you tell?
What is a sepulchre? What does that imply about the female? Are there any other lines that supports this?
Do the actions described in the final verses sound like those of a reasonable person?
Do you believe in the truth of those 100% -- 50% -- 25% -- not at all?
GG
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Poe
From guest Dan (contact)
The KING of Literature! Poe is THE GREATEST writer that has ever, and will ever, live! He is a GOD through the ages, and has more talent and power in any one word than every writer before and after him. God rest, and God bless you Poe! I am honored to walk the streets you once did. -
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Annabel Lee
From guest Anabel (contact)
I absolutely love this poem and have memorized every word. I was named after it. This poem is so musical and full of passion. I love it. -
guest sunshine's libel against Poe
From guest Amillennialist (contact)
After Poe's wife died, he would sneak out at night to visit her grave, even during winter and sometimes without shoes to avoid waking his mother-in-law who would try to prevent him to protect his health. Annabel Lee was his last poem, written not long after Virginia's death. -
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From guest sunshine (contact)
When poe says that he is laying down by her side, he is performing necrophilia. You have to remember Poe is deep and dark. He could'nt just write a love poem without having something morbid happening. Come on guys 18th century gothic writing here. -
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It brought a tear
A successful poem, and a measure beyond measure..
There is no comment here..
This is a full proof of how tyrantly talented mister Poe were..
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. -
just a thought
From guest Brittney Beck (contact)
have you ever really read this poem? after reading this poem it raised questions as a possible suicide note and not just a poem. “ It was many and many a year ago,” (Annabelle Lee) A few years before his death he was married to the love of his life Virginia, they where in love. “ She was a child and I was a child’ she was only 13 when they where married he was 26. Then his love grew ill, feel in to a coma and died, “A wind blew out of a cloud by night, chilling and killing my Annabelle Lee; “(getting sick) “ and bore her away from me to shut her up in a sepulcher” her coma. “ and neither the angels in heaven above” he smoked opium which gave him the feeling of fling and looking into the heavens, “ nor the demons under the sea” he would drink and see his demons, “could ever dissever my soul from the soul of the beautiful Annabelle Lee; --“ nothing he could do could erase her from his love. “ And so all the night tide I lie down by the side, of my darling my darling my life and my bride, in her sepulcher there by the sea—in her tomb by the side of the sea” Poe takes his life drinking himself in to a coma his own sepulcher as to die metaphorically by the side of his bride. -
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Although the details do not match the poem very well, given the date of the poem it is assumed that Annabel Lee is intended to represent his wife (his cousin Virginia Clemm) who died 30 January 1847; she was twenty-five.
http://www.eapoe.org/papers/psbbooks/pb19871c.htm
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Love Surpreme
From guest Lamont (contact)
I must say that this Poem has to be the culmination of what true love is. Edgar understood that love has no age factor. The only question I have is would he had felt the same way for Annabel after 5 years of living together. -
Poe!!
From guest Paige!! (contact)
His loss moves him to state that envious angels caused the girl's death to "dissever" (separate) the young married couple. He tells briefly of her funeral and entombment "in her sepulchre … by the sea." The narrator then reveals that he has been unable to accept their separation. Since her death, he has spent night after night at her tomb, an astonishing and perverse example of the immortality of young love -
Tear
From guest Greg (contact)
So sad, but it shows me how much he cared for her. Its sad yet sweet in a strange way -
From guest Julianna (contact)
I really love this poem and I was hoping I could use it for a project in class, but I'm not sure if it's a sonnet or not. -
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Tear
This one makes me so sad. Poe had such a hard life. -
this poem
just kills me every time i read it. i actively seek this piece out and torture myself with it. the first time i read it, i was very young and it was in my childrens literature book. it feels like a wound that never heals, and has touched me deeply continuously throughout my life. -
From guest Josh Rain (contact)
this i truely simbolic of poetry in all its glorious splender. Edgar Allan Poe is the father of all dark and dull poetry leading us in our modern spell of seperation. -
Annabel Lee
From guest Cjhdksd [chelsea] (contact)
He married his 13 year old cousin
But he did write this.. I love this poem -
From guest chelsea (contact)
Poe was awsome for writing this. But he still married his 13 year old cousin.. EW -
I absolutely love this poem. I have searched for an audio with someone saying it the way it is meant to be read, with certain pauses and such, but have failed to find one. (If anyone knows where I can, please message me...) It is such a sad story, and yet still so beautiful...
~Jasmine~ -
My favorite poem by the genius Mr. Edgar Allan Poe....Losing someone and never forgetting them and missing them... I can relate... Riveting and Brilliant!!!!!
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I first read this poem in the seventh grade and when I did I fell in love with it. It's just the emotion and love put into this poem makes it amazing and totally worth reading. It makes me hope for a love this strong when I get older.
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One of the most beautiful poems ever despite it dark meanings and emotions
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so so beautiful it chills my soul brings tears to my eys my heart pounding so fast and another chill down to my toes!!!
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I have this poem in my book I love this 1 out of all of them!
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One of my favorites, it's so beautifly demented.
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Poe was a simple genius. I have always been in love with them poem. And day by day as I read it I begin to love it more and want it more. I smile just reciting it in my head. That is why Poe was so brilliant, blurring such pieces in your mind.
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This is my all-time favorite poem of Poe. It's so heart-felt. I can see her. Very descriptive.
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one of my favorite poems, Along with "The Raven" also written by Poe. He wrote wonderful poems, I love them.
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This is such a beautiful poem. It has been my favourite since I started writing poetry.
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this is my favorite poe poem.
definately.
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one of the most mellifluous I have EVER read...
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This poem is so deep, I love it xxxxxxxxx
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This has always been one of my favorite poems!!!
Edited on Nov 15, 9:40 because 'because I feel like it, dammit!!!'. -
I love this, and always have. It's a damn good poem!
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so so sad. but beautiful. this is my favorite poem! poe is an excellent poet.
Edited on Nov 14, 8:06 p.m. because 'all the cool kids do it'. -
this is my favorite poe poem of all timw ill always love it and there is always room for it in my heart
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"That the wind came out of the cloud by night, Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee. "
This line sends shivers creeping through my soul. That angels out of spite and jealousy would kill ones true love if you love them too much. It says volumns not only about love but says something deeper about all success in this world. Be too much of anything and enemies will appear to destroy you or your loved ones. -
poe is a great poet and it didnt suprise me at all that he poured so much emotion in this. Next to the raven this is a work of art!
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This is true love and sorrow. Immaculate wording and flow. It almost brings a tear to your eye. I looove this poem, It is my fav Poe poem for many reasons.
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Poe's attempt to immortalise his dear wife Virginia after her death from consumption. How grief-stricken this man was. After looking after her for so long, hopes raised and then dashed as she faded a litle each time must have been pergatory for him.
So much love, grief and pain in one poem.
Incredibly sad.
~Von~ -
hey, try reading this to any relaxation cds with the sea in the background. it makes this poem even better, if that's possible...
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*Tear*
This is so sad, but so beautiful...
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So sad! I wish men did still write like this. Oh... he loved her so much. *cries* Love love love this one.
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Erika ~~~~~
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I loved this poem, I had never read it intill now and I love it.
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Very sad and tragic. He had poured alot of emotions in this poem. I would like to read some more of his works.
--ERIS-- -
I love this one so much. You can feel his pain, it's almost like you were there enduring the pain and tradgedy with him.
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I had never read this one before...
I'm not at all disappointed! It reminds me of my other favorite writer of all time--Shakespeare;
"Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold"
In this case, the thieves are the angels above...
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This just made me cry. lol Seriously. I love this poem so much! *cries some more* =)
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This is my all time favorite poems, it is so sweet and beautifly written. I just adore it.
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this one of my favourite pieces by poe. it is so beautiful
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Sigh If too many men still wrote like this, I think the female population would be in trouble, or perhaps not.
♥ Kimberly -
Simply one of the best poems.. ultimately my favorite.. This holds a lot of meaning in a sense to me.
~Sun -
Such a love is only found once in a lifetime, although Poe did manage to find many, hehehe. This is my very favorite of Poe's love poems. I love the melody of the reading, and the structure of his poetry cannot be surpassed.
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I absoluetly adore this poem, but it makes me sad because it makes me think of my grandma (it was her favoriate)
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I read this poem for a presentation in 8th grade. It is one of my favorites. Took me a little research to figure out what some of the words meant... but hey, all the more better to understand it with.
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This was very beautiful and sad. He was so good at describing everything in this poem, and i loved the fairytail like form of this poem.
DJ -
definatly one of my favorites
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this has to be my favorite poem of all time. everything about it is wonderful.
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This is my all time favorite poem, I learned it when I was quite young. In my opinion this is his best poem. It pushes me every day to be a better writer. Poe is MY inspiration, everything about him from his cool smooth words,the way the role off your tongue, to his dark justifiable mix of words and perfect composition. My heart sinks and sings at the sight of his works. He is truly a master of the words of pain.
Edited on Aug 30, 10:19 p.m. because 'needed it to exspress more of how i felt'. -
I love this poem...it's my second favorite of poe's poems...the flow n rhythm.. the repetitive rhymes...I love the way poe's poems flow the way they do...esp. this one and my all time favorite poem..."The Raven" i read it in school n i was like..*wow* this is awesome...good ol' poe...master of the tradgedy, the first true gothic poet...So much depression and sorrow...the woe and misery..His dark poetry is so artful...he had such talent and had a mastery of words i could never hope to match...I've went on about poe too long...thanks for posting his wonderous works on such a great dite like Oldpoerty....lol
~JacK~ (w/fangs!)
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I love this poem, I do not now why or I am not ablle to exprasse what I feel. I think that I love this poem becouse of mistery, tragedy and hoppe.
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what is meant by "A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling My beautiful Annabel Lee" is that she fell very ill and finally died therein, her kin came and took her away to put her in a sepulchre, which is a tomb-type thing for burying people. Hope that was kinda helpful
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I need to know what Poe means when he says" A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling My beautiful Annbel Lee: So that her highborn kinsmen came And bore her away from me, To shut her up in a Seulchre in this kingdom by the sea." i also really need to know the meaning of the word "selpulchre". If anyone knows help me out PLEASE!!!
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He is awsome poet...this is my favorite poem ever, it is so beautiful, best i read... his others are great too, but this one is just special...
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This seems to be a common favorite, and no wonder - it has all the makings of a truly fine, skillfully crafted poem.
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he sucks
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