Famous Sad Poem

The poem "Alone" was written by Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849) in 1829. It was written by Poe when he was only 20 and describes his own inner torment at that young age. The poem was not published until 1875, long after his death.

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This poem touches the old scarred-over wound in my soul. Though I'm old now, when I read it - that old pain I know returns - and it bitterly breaks my heart. But not for self-pity! ...

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Famous Poem

Alone

Edgar Allan Poe By more Edgar Allan Poe

From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were—I have not seen
As others saw—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring—
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone—
And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone—
Then—in my childhood—in the dawn
Of a most stormy life—was drawn
From ev’ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still—
From the torrent, or the fountain—
From the red cliff of the mountain—
From the sun that ‘round me roll’d
In its autumn tint of gold—
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass’d me flying by—
From the thunder, and the storm—
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view—

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Has this poem touched you? Share your story!
  • James H. O'Brien by James H. O'Brien, Pennsylvania
  • 1 year ago

This poem touches the old scarred-over wound in my soul.

Though I'm old now, when I read it - that old pain I know returns - and it bitterly breaks my heart. But not for self-pity! Rather, for the filthy child at school; The shameful self-loathing child watching from a distance at the joyful play of others; The confused toddler, with hands-over-ears, wide-eyed and lips stretched tight at the corners - cowering in dreadful dreadful fear observing while father throws furniture and mommy screams hateful vitriol. Invisible to them. Alone.

I want to rescue you. I want to comfort you. "I understand . . . I know . . . I know . . . I know. You are not alone."

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I can relate to this poem and can share it's sentiments. Poe is quite candid in revealing his unique perspectives, and that takes courage. The poem, in it's entirety, is beautifully expressed, it is one of my favorites. The two lines that I particularly appreciate are,
"And all I loved I loved alone". -
I can relate to this line because the things that I find to be quite humorous are viewed by most as being devoid of humor. The other line I can appreciate is,
"And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view--"
To my understanding, in the cloud, he saw the shape of a demon, while any other person probably would have seen the shape of something more on the bright side - to my understanding. Like Poe, some see things from a melancholy perspective, and I proudly relate to that. The only drawback is that it's not very appealing to most. Nonetheless, Poe's poems, although dark, are artfully penned and appeal to many, including me.

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  • Linda by Linda
  • 2 years ago

This poem has always had a special place in my heart. I get to connect with it; my childhood is different from others, so most things in my life that I got to love I most definitely have come to love it alone. The poems always seemed to showcase the loneliness I sometimes feel because of the hardships I have had to endure and the pleasures I never got to experience. There's this form of loneliness: of no one out there who ever got to feel what I felt, that there is no one out there that would ever understand me. I loved, but I always seemed alone.

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  • Karinne Anderson by Karinne Anderson
  • 5 years ago

Sometimes I am different. Is there something wrong with me? Why do I feel this way? I don't have anyone. When I watch people in the lunch room laughing and smiling with each other, I wonder what it must be like. Is everyone look at my and laughing because I have no friends?

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  • Annabel F. McDonald by Annabel F. McDonald
  • 4 years ago

I get it. Trust me, I know what it feels like to be an outcast. But I can guarantee you, nothing is wrong with you. I don't know why people feel this way, but nobody...NOBODY! should be laughing at you!

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