Last Update: October 14, 2020 Navigation: Main Menu Poe's Works Poe's Poems Editorial Policies Searching Annotated Text

Text: Edgar Allan Poe, “An Acrostic” (Reading Text)

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

An Acrostic

Elizabeth it is in vain you say

“Love not” — thou sayest it in so sweet a way:

In vain those words from thee or L. E. L.

Zantippe's talents had enforced so well:

Ah! if that language from thy heart arise,

Breathe it less gently forth — and veil thine eyes.

Endymion, recollect, when Luna tried

To cure his love — was cured of all beside —

His folly — pride — and passion — for he died.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Notes:

This reading copy is based on the “Herring” manuscript.

This poem is one of several acrostics Poe wrote for the amusement of female admirers. Here, the first letter of each line spells “Elizabeth.” In the following text, the key for the acrostic is shown in red:

                    Elizabethitisinvainyousay 

                    Lovenotthousayestitinsosweetaway 

                    InvainthosewordsfromtheeorLEL 

                    Zantippestalentshadenforcedsowell 

                    Ahifthatlanguagefromthyheartarise 

                    Breatheitlessgentlyforthandveilthineeyes 

                    EndymionrecollectwhenLunatried 

                    Tocurehislovewascuredofallbeside 

                    Hisfollyprideandpassionforhedied

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

[S:1 - JAS] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - Poems - An Acrostic (Reading Text)