January 19, 1809 to October 7, 1849
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow—
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep— while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
-The End-
by Edgar Allan Poe
The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe, 1850
Biography of Edgar Allan Poe
Born in Boston, Massachusetts to poor, touring actors, David Poe Jr.
and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins who both died before Edgar reached the age
of three, he was raised by John Allan. Edgar's older brother, William Henry
Leonard was born in 1807, the first child, and due to financial strain
was given to his grandparents to be raised before they died. His younger
sister Rosalie who was born in 1810, was raised by John Allan's neighbor
and friend, William Mackenzie and his wife. In 1815 Edgar and his new
adopted family traveled to London. In 1820 Edgar was resolved to return
to America, later that year the Allan family returned as well, due to
a failed business venture. Edgar had been pursuing a young woman by the
name Sarah Elmira Royster, but when his relationship became strained with
his adopted father John, the threat of no inheritance spearhead her parents
to interfere. They never sent Edgar's letter on to Sarah. Edgar attended
the University of Virginia in 1826 for only one year where got himself
in debt with gambling bills. Edgar printed his first book, a collection
of verse Tamerlane
at his own expense in 1827. He went on to join the military since he was
without financial means or support. While there, his army buddies helped
his financially to publish Poems by Edgar A. Poe ... Second Edition (1831).
After his self perpetuated discharge out of the Army he went to live in
Baltimore with his aunt and her daughter Virginia, whom he married. He
supported himself during this time by writing fiction and winning prizes.
He eventually became a respected critic for the Messenger. Virginia died
in 1847 of tuberculosis and was very difficult for Edgar, but he soon
was reconciled with the love of his youth Sarah Helen Whitman . He died
in the on Baltimore street of congestion of the brain.
Weblinks
The Poe Museum since 1922
The Raven Society of the University of Virginia
Qrisse's Edgar Allan Poe Pages use the drop down menu to view Poe's prose
Edgar Allan Poe's House of Usher
The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe
The All Poe website FAQ, essays, and Poe mailing list