The Raven

Once, at midnight, I sat and thought. I was weak and very tired. I sat in my room and read old books. It was December, and the night was cold. The fire was small. I was almost asleep.

I was sad because of Lenore. Lenore was a beautiful young woman. I loved her very much. But Lenore was dead. I read my books, but I was still sad.

Then I heard a little sound. Tap, tap, tap. Someone was at my door. “It is a person at my door,” I said. “It is only a person, and nothing more.”

I went to the door. “I am sorry,” I said. “I was asleep, and your sound was very quiet.” I opened the door wide. There was darkness there, and nothing more.

I looked into the dark night for a long time. I was afraid. It was very quiet outside. I said one word in a quiet voice: “Lenore?” Then the same word came back to me: “Lenore!” Only this, and nothing more.

I went back into my room. Then I heard the sound again. This sound was louder. “It is at my window,” I said. “It is only the wind, and nothing more.”

I opened the window. A big black bird walked into my room. It was a raven. The raven did not stop. It flew up above my door. Above the door, there was a white head. It was not a real head. It was a head of white stone. The raven sat on the white head. It sat there, and nothing more.

I looked at the black bird. Then I asked a question. “Old bird, what is your name?” The raven said, “Nevermore.”

I was very surprised. A bird can talk! The raven said only this one word. “My friends went away,” I said quietly. “Tomorrow the bird will go away too.” Then the bird said, “Nevermore.”

I sat down in a soft chair. I looked at the raven. Its eyes were very bright. Lenore sat in this chair once. She will never sit here again.

“Bird, tell me!” I said. “Will I see Lenore again one day? After I die, will I hold her again?” The raven said, “Nevermore.”

I stood up quickly. I was very angry. “Go away, bird!” I shouted. “Go back into the night! I want to be alone! Go away from my door!” The raven said, “Nevermore.”

The raven did not go. It still sits on the white head. It still sits above my door. Its eyes are dark and strange. Its black shadow is on my floor. I am sad in that shadow. And nothing will lift me from that shadow—nevermore!