The Raven Of Baltimore

In Baltimore there is a large graveyard

filled with many graves

each one bearing a different name,

and one of these grave markers

bears a name

Titled: Poe

for in this graveyard

the writer Poe now rests.

There too, is a lone guard

who watches over his master's grave.

A Raven.

It sits atop the resting place

only to say,

 Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore!"

There is one Person

who comes close to the grave

of the beloved writer.

On the birthday 

of this esteemed man,

before the blue hour

of the coming dawn,

the Person

only known to the Raven

comes bearing gifts-

balloon glasses

Courvoisier VS

replacing

Benny Haven's best,

and a single red, red Rose.

The Person 

gives a small toast in salute

to the unforgettable Poe

then vanishes quickly,

like an elusive phantasm,

 into the tarnished charm

of the old city streets.

Who is this Person

unknown to us

and  known only

to the Raven of Baltimore?

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore!"

 Nevermore!  Shall we know.

Edgar Allan Poe

(January 19, 1809-October 7, 1849)

Photograph courtesy/The Smithsonian

"The Raven of Baltimore"
Written by 
Aaron M. Kelly
Edited by Pamela Brida
(January 18, 2022)