Spirits Of The Dead By Edgar Allen Poe

"Spirits of the Dead" (or Visit of the Dead) is a quintessential Poe poem, encapsulating themes of mourning, the afterlife, and the communion between the living and the dead. The poem speaks directly to the soul of the mourner, suggesting that in solitude and silence, one might find communion with the spirits of those who have passed away. It conveys a sense of solemnity and introspection, encouraging the reader to be still and recognize the presence and influence of the dead.

This poem, like much of Poe's work, delves into the macabre and explores the thin veil between life and death, offering a hauntingly beautiful meditation on grief, memory, and the eternal.

Transcript

Visit of the Dead by Edgar Allan Poe.

Thy soul shall find itself alone,

Alone of all on earth unknown.

The cause but none are near to pry into thine hour of secrecy.

Be silent in that solitude which is not loneliness,

For then the spirits of the dead who stood in life before thee are again in death around thee,

And their will shall then overshadow thee.

Be still,

For the night though clear shall frown,

And the stars shall look not down from their thrones in the dark heaven with light like hope to mortals given,

But their red orbs without beam to thy withering heart shall seem as a burning and a fervor which would cling to thee forever,

But twill leave thee as each star in the morning light afar will fly thee and vanish,

But its thought though canst not vanish,

The breath of God will be still,

And the wish upon the hill by that summer breeze unbroken shall charm thee as a token and a symbol which shall be secrecy in thee.