Quoth the Raven; "Nevermore"

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 some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—

Only this and nothing more.”

I can recall reading Edgar Allen Poe's poem The Raven in school and loving the sing song way the verses rhymed. There is something inviting about the way he puts the words together that gets them stuck in your head and I love it. Many people have given their analogies of what hidden meaning lies within this poetry and I have my own. It lies in the four words that describe what the black bird says throughout the tale.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,

“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

Poe is teling his audience that the raven has informed him that he will never again see the woman he loves. Nada, nope, not happening, I don't think so, No way Hose, never again not anymore. These are the words that come to mind for me when I think of the Raven's reply to Poe. The bird was telling the author that it was futile to believe his beloved Lenore was coming back. The answer was short and to the point and I have found that by saying "Quoth the Raven, nevermore" it helps me to stick to a plan of action.

Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door—

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

With such name as “Nevermore.”

The passages from Poe's poem that I use here are those where the Raven speaks or the author on his behalf mentions the phrase Nevermore. I find that when I am about to embark on a task that I once said I would no longer involve myself with I think of this poem and say to myself " Quoth the Raven Nevermore." In layman's terms, the feathered prophet is saying "It's ain't happnin Captain."

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—

Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before—

On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.”

Then the bird said “Nevermore.”

We all need a mantra or a saying that will help us to maintain a stance we have taken. I find that when I repeat the Raven's phrase it empowers me but those around me often have no clue what I am talking about. Just saying "Nevermore" or "Poe quotes the Raven as saying Nevermore is not as eloquent as "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore." That has a nice ring to it.

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.

“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee

Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

Poe has to hear this phrase a number of times before he finally gets it. This lets me know that just because I have taken a stand on a subject does not indicate that I will automatically, and immediately, adhere to my decision. Practice will make perfect.

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted—

On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore—

Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!”

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

Poe knew the bird was telling the truth but he argued his point until he finally got the message. Like all of us he was hoping the messenger was not saying what he believed he was telling him. The Raven stuck to his guns and never uttered anything different.

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

When you make an unpopular decision or are required to communicate an uncomfortable truth, be true to yourself like the pitch-black fowl.

“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

The Raven was telling Poe to buck up because Lenore was never returning. Sometimes you have to tell or receive the truth no matter how much it hurts.

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted—nevermore!