For+Annie

=For Annie = By EDGAR ALLAN POE

Thank Heaven! the crisis, The danger, is past, And the lingering illness  Is over at last— And the fever called "Living"  Is conquered at last. Sadly, I know  I am shorn of my strength, And no muscle I move  As I lie at full length— But no matter!—I feel  I am better at length. And I rest so composedly, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Now, in my bed, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">That any beholder <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Might fancy me dead— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Might start at beholding me, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Thinking me dead. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">The moaning and groaning, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> The sighing and sobbing, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Are quieted now, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> With that horrible throbbing <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">At heart:—ah, that horrible, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Horrible throbbing! <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">The sickness—the nausea— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> The pitiless pain— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Have ceased, with the fever <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> That maddened my brain— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">With the fever called "Living" <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> That burned in my brain. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And oh! of all tortures <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">//That// torture the worst <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Has abated—the terrible <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Torture of thirst <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">For the naphthaline river <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Of Passion accurst:— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">I have drank of a water <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> That quenches all thirst:— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Of a water that flows, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> With a lullaby sound, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">From a spring but a very few <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Feet under ground— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">From a cavern not very far <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Down under ground. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And ah! let it never <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Be foolishly said <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">That my room it is gloomy <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> And narrow my bed; <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">For man never slept <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> In a different bed— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And, to //sleep//, you must slumber <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> In just such a bed. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">My tantalized spirit <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Here blandly reposes, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Forgetting, or never <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Regretting, its roses— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Its old agitations <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Of myrtles and roses: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">For now, while so quietly <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Lying, it fancies <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">A holier odor <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> About it, of pansies— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">A rosemary odor, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Commingled with pansies— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">With rue and the beautiful <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Puritan pansies. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And so it lies happily, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Bathing in many <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">A dream of the truth <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> And the beauty of Annie— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Drowned in a bath <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Of the tresses of Annie. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">She tenderly kissed me, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> She fondly caressed, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And then I fell gently <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> To sleep on her breast— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Deeply to sleep <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> From the heaven of her breast. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">When the light was extinguished, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> She covered me warm, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And she prayed to the angels <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> To keep me from harm— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">To the queen of the angels <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> To shield me from harm. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And I lie so composedly, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Now, in my bed, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">(Knowing her love) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> That you fancy me dead— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">And I rest so contentedly, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Now in my bed <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">(With her love at my breast). <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> That you fancy me dead— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">That you shudder to look at me, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Thinking me dead:— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">But my heart it is brighter <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Than all of the many <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">Stars in the sky, <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> For it sparkles with Annie— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">It glows with the light <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Of the love of my Annie— <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">With the thought of the light <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"> Of the eyes of my Annie.