Famous Narrative Poem

Annabel Lee was the last poem written by Poe. Like many of Poe's poems, this one is about lost love. It was published in 1849 shortly after his death. The subject mourns the death of his young love, Annabel Lee, and blames the angels for killing her out of jealousy for their love. He has since then slept by her grave, unable to accept her death.
Edgar Allan Poe once said that the death of a beautiful woman is "the most poetical topic in the world". In this poem, the subject's lover, Annabel Lee was killed. The subject of the poem affirms that the love between him and Annabel Lee is so strong that even death can't separate them.

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I have always enjoyed reading the poem of Anabelle Lee. One day my grandson came home and told me he had to memorize and recite it for a 7th grade competition. I was delighted to help him. In...

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Famous Poem

Annabel Lee

Edgar Allan Poe By more Edgar Allan Poe

It was many and many a year ago,
   In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
   By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
   Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
   In this kingdom by the sea,
But we loved with a love that was more than love—
   I and my Annabel Lee—
With a love that the wingèd seraphs of Heaven
   Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
   In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
   My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsmen came
   And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
   In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in Heaven,
   Went envying her and me—
Yes!—that was the reason (as all men know,
   In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
   Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
   Of those who were older than we—
   Of many far wiser than we—
And neither the angels in Heaven above
   Nor the demons down under the sea
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
   Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
   Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
   Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
   Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,
   In her sepulchre there by the sea—
   In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Listen to a dramatic reading of "Annabel Lee"

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Has this poem touched you? Share your story!
  • Hope by Hope
  • 10 months ago

Annabel Lee is a beautiful poem. It's such a touching poem. Edger Allen Poe is such a great poet

  • Pierre Lamont Calderon by Pierre Lamont Calderon
  • 2 years ago

I have always enjoyed reading the poem of Anabelle Lee. One day my grandson came home and told me he had to memorize and recite it for a 7th grade competition. I was delighted to help him. In the process, I learned the poem as well, and now it has so much more meaning to me. Poe is incredibly romantic; his poem illustrates forces of darkness from the netherworld and how they were no match for the love he shared with Anabelle Lee. Moreover, his poem Anabelle Lee demonstrates that love not only conquers darkness, but it is perpetual and indeed, eternal.

  • Issy Kay by Issy Kay
  • 4 years ago

Favorite poem, favorite poet. Has been since I was in 7th grade. He's such a dark sweetheart!! I love it!

Edgar Allan Poe is my favorite poet. This is such a touching poem. It puts a lump in my throat.

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