Death's Delirium (Poe's Untimely Demise)

What mystery of mysteries
Lie buried there on yonder hill?
The truth in silent whisp'ring wind
Kept hid these past two centuries-
The penance paid for wanton sin.
(To swallow now such bitter pill
Cast down my throat against my will
Hath left me in a ghastly state
And yet my spirit must relate).
An evil gale on that night blew
And terrors that he never knew
Did visit dark upon that place
As death pursued and quicken’d pace-
Yea, overtook him in the chase.
No starry night to light the sky
No moon o’er head the sky to ply
Just ebon in the heavens ‘bove
As darkling figure flutter’d wing
Unearthly sound unlike the dove
Hover’d o’er now - a ghostly thing!

And the raven flew into the night
And the raven flew into the night

A wager made the ante in-
The loser who for want of heart
Throws in his last remaining coins
And prays tonight’s the night he’ll win.
A feeling deep within his loins
Portends his money shall depart
And ne’er he’ll gain a fresh new start.
Lo! The deed held in pocket deep
Ensures the promise he will keep.
And so once more a playing hand
Is dealt before a wretch’d band
Of cons who’d never pray’d to God
Whose lives had ever felt the rod-
The holy path they’d never trod.
Thus trembling he arose to leave
No ace to hide under his sleeve-
His loss and pain now evident
The deed he left, his payment last-
The cold outside, ill wind a’blow
O that this night might soon be past!

And the raven flew toward the east
And the raven flew toward the east

The deed a closer look was made
And ‘fore too long ‘twas evident
That all was not quite as it seem’d
‘Twas nothing but a grim charade.
What happen’d next as if a dream-
The guild of men with cruel intent
On finding Poe were now hell-bent.
And so into the night they sped
A hound from hell came-with for dread-
The rabid beast held fast by chain
In chilling wind, in blinding rain.
A shadow in the distance seen
A man alone or so it seemed-
The hound set loose in low ravine.
It's prey ran high upon that hill
Each howl his tingling spine did chill
Until ill fate caught up with him
His future prospects e'er so grim.
The evil jaw upon him clench’d
He scream’d aloud before the fall
The poison in his blood entrench’d
Delirium now cast it’s pall.

And the raven flew toward the light
And the raven flew toward the light

There as he lay on yonder hill
The chase now o'er, the silence sweet-
He gazed above in still of night
As clouds departing shew'd goodwill.
The vision ’bove ‘twas nay for fright-
He hears a steady rhythmic beat
So low and calm as if discreet.
The heavens part to his delight-
A figure standing in the light
Extends to him an outstretch’d hand
Whilst voice like waters bid him stand.
He wonders now if just a dream
Or are things really as they seem-
A voice or just a nearby stream?
Quite suddenly he feels no pain
As wind abates and same the rain-
The hand then grabs him by the throat
Another tears his woolen coat
His life doth flash before his eyes
And thro’ the dimly lighten’d sky
He sees his bride - to his surprise
Whose only word to him is “Why?”

And the raven flew into the sun
And the raven flew into the sun

He breath’d his last then bade goodbye
The troubl’d bard who’d gone awry-
The mystery resolv’d at last
On how it was that Edgar pass’d.

And if thou wonder how I know
These secrets held from long ago-
Although the truth thou surely crave
I’ll take such knowledge to my grave.