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{{1843-A:
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BY EDGAR A. POE.
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Line-001: LO! {{1843-A: ’t is //1843-B1 // 1843-B2 //1845-C //1845-D //1845-F //1847-H //1849-J: 'tis }} a gala night
Line-002: [[indent-2]] Within the lonesome latter years {{1843-A: — // 1843-B1 //1843-B2 //1845-C //1845-D //1845-F //1847-H //1849-J: ! }}
Line-003: {{1843-A //1843-B1 //1843-B2: A mystic //1845-C: An angel 1843-A //1843-B1 //1843-B2: A mystic //1845-C: An angel }} throng, {{1843-A: bewinged //1843-B1 //1843-B2: bewing’d }} , bedight
Line-004: [[indent-2]] In veils and {{1843-A: drowned //1843-B1 //1843-B2 // 1845-C: drown’d }} in tears,
Line-005: Sit in a theatre to see
Line-006: [[indent-2]] A play of hopes and fears,
Line-007: While the orchestra breathes fitfully
Line-008: [[indent-2]] The music of the spheres.
Line-009: Mimes, in the form of God on high,
Line-010: [[indent-2]] Mutter and mumble low,
Line-011: And hither and thither fly —
Line-012: [[indent-2]] Mere puppets they, who come and go
Line-013: At bidding of vast {{1843-A: shadowy //1843-B1 //1843-B2 //1845-C // 1845-D //1845-F //1847-H //1849-J: formless }} things
Line-014: [[indent-2]] That shift the scenery to and fro,
Line-015: Flapping from out their Condor wings
Line-016: [[indent-2]] Invisible Wo!
Line-017: That motley drama — oh, be sure
Line-018: [[indent-2]] It {{1843-A: shall //1843-B1 //1843-B2: shall }} not be forgot!
Line-019: With its {{1843-A: Phantom //1843-B1: phantom //1843-B2: Phantom }} chased forevermore,
Line-020: [[indent-2]] By a crowd that seize it not,
Line-021: Through a circle that ever returneth in
Line-022: [[indent-2]] To the self-same spot,
Line-023: And much of Madness and more of Sin,
Line-024: [[indent-2]] And Horror the soul of the plot.
Line-025: But see, amid the mimic rout,
Line-026: [[indent-2]] A crawling shape intrude!
Line-027: A blood-red thing that writhes from out
Line-028: [[indent-2]] The scenic solitude!
Line-029: It writhes! — it writhes! — with mortal pangs
Line-030: [[indent-2]] The mimes become its food,
Line-031: And the angels sob at vermin fangs
Line-032: [[indent-2]] In human gore imbued!
Line-033: Out — out are the lights — out all!
Line-034: [[indent-2]] And, over each {{1843-A: dying //1843-B1 //1843-B2 // 1845-C //1845-D //1845-F //1847-H //1849-J: quivering }} form,
Line-035: The curtain, a funeral pall,
Line-036: [[indent-2]] Comes down with the rush of a storm,
Line-037: And the seraphs, all haggard and wan,
Line-038: [[indent-2]] Uprising, unveiling, affirm
Line-039: That the play is the tragedy “Man,”
Line-040: [[indent-2]] Its hero the Conqueror Worm.
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Notes:
For an explanation of the formatting used in this comparative text, see editorial policies and methods. This format is very much an experiment, particularly for poetry.
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[S:0 - comparative] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - Poems - The Conqueror Worm (comparative - all)