"The Haunted Palace" is an allegorical narrative poem written by Edgar Allan Poe
that was published in 1839. Although the poem describes a once beautiful palace,
the place has now fallen into ruin. Although I believe this poem reflects the inner
torment often suffered by this brilliant man, I see parallels of the decaying
spiritual condition of America today within Poe's work; our nation was
once "a fair and stately palace" which has now become "...but a
dim-remembered story...Of the old time entombed."
In the greenest of our valleys
By the good angels tenanted,
Once a fair and stately palace-
Radiant palace-reared its head.
In the monarch Thought's dominion,
It stood there!
Never seraph spread a pinion
Over fabric half so fair!
Banners yellow, glorious, golden,
On its roof did float and flow
(This-all this-was in the olden
Time long ago)
And every gentle air that dallied,
In that sweet day,
Along the ramparts plumed and pallid
A winged odor went away.
Wanderers in that happy valley,
Through two luminous windows, saw
Spirits moving musically
To a lute's well-tuned law,
Round about a throne where, sitting
Porphyrogene!
In state his glory well befitting,
The ruler of the realm was seen.
With all the pearl and ruby glowing
Was the fair palace door,
Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing
And sparkling evermore,
A troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty
Was but to sing,
In voices of surpassing beauty,
The wit and wisdom of their king.
But evil things, in robes of sorrow
Assailed the monarch's high estate;
(Ah, let us mourn!-for never morrow
Shall dawn upon him, desolate!)
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.
And travellers, now, within that valley,
Through the red-litten windows see
Vast forms that move fantastically
To a discordant melody;
While, like a ghastly rapid river,
Through the pale door
A hideous throng rush out forever,
And laugh-but smile no more.
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