In a Kingdom by the Sea

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809.

We can't let the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's birth date go by without marking the occasion. ;-)

A master of the macabre, Poe could weave dread and despair, madness and mystery, into the very words of his poetry and stories. The cadence of his writings hint of a mental state on the verge of hysteria, building to a frenzy of gothic romanticism as the narrative concludes. His works always give a wild thrill of terror, a haunting glimpse of the bizarre.

Yes, Poe does get a bit overheated and verbose from time to time, but I feel that's part of his charm. His excess is an expression of his authenticity. As a writer, he gets so caught up in the work that he loses control; the dread and sensation that he creates is felt first by him.

Annabel Lee (1910) by John R. Neill

As usual, I have a hard time picking my favorite work by Poe, but "Annabel Lee" is my choice for today.

Let's look at some vids:

A recital of "Annabel Lee"

"Annabel Lee" performed by Sweet Sister Pain

"The Death of Annabel Lee" performed by Lux Arcana

"Annabelle Lee" by Sarah Jarosz

Enjoy!!!