A Romance of Despair and Melancholy

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door —
Only this and nothing more.”

But as I opened wide the portal, with a heart full ofImmortal
Love for a maiden fair and bright, who in my dreams did oft’ appear,
There stood before me, dressed in white, a vision of ethereal light,
Her hair of gold, her eyes so clear, a smile that banish’d every fear.
“My love,” said I, “how came you here? This is no dream, but reality.”

With a voice as soft as summer’s breeze, she spoke these words with gentle ease:
“I come to you, my darling, in this dark and dreary night,
To bring you love, to chase away the shadows and the fright.
For though our love may be doomed to fail, it shall be a sweet endeavor,
And I shall love you, dear, forever and ever.”

And so we pledged our love anew, in that chamber, just me and you,
With a kiss as gentle as a sigh, and a heart full of love’s desire.
But alas, our love was not meant to be, for fate did intervene with glee,
And separated us, causing us to retire
Into the depths of melancholy and despair, never to see each other again.

And now, as I sit here writing, with tears that are unbidden,
I recall the love that once was mine, and the pain that still lingers on.
For though she is gone, and my heart is sore, my love for her shall forevermore
Be a flame that shall never die, a memory that shall forever shine.
“Farewell, my love,” I whisper low, “Farewell, my love, forevermore.”