Isawtheeonceonceonlyyearsago：
Imustnotsayhowmanybutnotmany。
ItwasaJulymidnight；andfromoutAfull-orbedmoon，that，likethineownsoul，soaring，Soughtaprecipitatepathwayupthroughheaven，Therefellasilvery-silkenveiloflight，Withquietude，andsultriness，andslumber，UpontheupturnedfacesofathousandRosesthatgrewinanenchantedgarden，Wherenowinddaredtostir，unlessontiptoe
Fellontheupturn’dfacesoftheserosesThatgaveout，inreturnforthelove-light，Theirodoroussoulsinanecstaticdeath
Fellontheupturn’dfacesoftheserosesThatsmiledanddiedinthisparterre，enchantedBythee，andbythepoetryofthypresence。
Cladallinwhite，uponavioletbankIsawtheehalfreclining；whilethemoonFellontheupturn’dfacesoftheroses，Andonthineown，upturn’d-alas，insorrow！
WasitnotFate，that，onthisJulymidnight-
WasitnotFate，whosenameisalsoSorrow，
Thatbademepausebeforethatgarden-gate，Tobreathetheincenseofthoseslumberingroses？
Nofootstepstirred：thehatedworldanslept，Saveonlytheeandme。Oh，Heaven！-oh，God！
Howmyheartbeatsincouplingthosetwowords！
Saveonlytheeandme。Ipaused-Ilooked-
Andinaninstantallthingsdisappeared。
Ah，bearinmindthisgardenwasenchanted！
Thepearlylustreofthemoonwentout：
Themossybanksandthemeanderingpaths，Thehappyflowersandtherepiningtrees，Wereseennomore：theveryroses’odorsDiedinthearmsoftheadoringairs。
All-allexpiredsavethee-savelessthanthou：
Saveonlythedivinelightinthineeyes-
Savebutthesoulinthineupliftedeyes。
Isawbutthem-theyweretheworldtome！
Isawbutthem-sawonlythemforhours，Sawonlythemuntilthemoonwentdown。
Whatwildheart-historiesseemedtoheenwrittenUponthosecrystalline，celestialspheres！
Howdarkawoe，yethowsublimeahope！
Howsilentlysereneaseaofpride！
Howdaringanambition；yethowdeep-
Howfathomlessacapacityforlove！
Butnow，atlength，dearDiansankfromsight，Intoawesterncouchofthunder-cloud；
Andthou，aghost，amidtheentombingtreesDidstglideaway。Onlythineeyesremained；
Theywouldnotgo-theyneveryethavegone；
Lightingmylonelypathwayhomethatnight，Theyhavenotleftmeasmyhopeshavesince；
Theyfollowme-theyleadmethroughtheyears。
TheyaremyministersyetItheirslave。
Theirofficeistoillumineandenkindle
Myduty，tobesavedbytheirbrightlight，Andpurifiedintheirelectricfire，Andsanctifiedintheirelysianfire。
TheyfillmysoulwithBeautywhichisHope，AndarefarupinHeaventhestarsIkneeltoInthesad，silentwatchesofmynight；
WhileeveninthemeridianglareofdayIseethemstilltwosweetlyscintillantVenuses，unextinguishedbythesun！
Itwasmanyandmanyayearago，Inakingdombythesea，ThatamaidenlivedwhomyoumayknowBythenameofANNABELLEE；-
AndthismaidenshelivedwithnootherthoughtThantoloveandbelovedbyme。
_I_wasachildand_She_wasachild，Inthiskingdombythesea，Butwelovedwithalovethatwasmorethanlove-
IandmyANNABELLEE-
Withalovethatthewing閐seraphsofHeavenCovetedherandme。
Andthiswasthereasonthat，longago，Inthiskingdombythesea，AwindblewoutofacloudbynightChillingmyANNABELLEE；
Sothatherhigh-bornkinsmencameAndboreherawayfromme，Toshutherup，inasepulchreInthiskingdombythesea。
Theangels，nothalfsohappyinHeaven，Wentenvyingherandme；
Yes！thatwasthereasonasallmenknow，Inthiskingdombythesea
Thatthewindcameoutofthecloud，chillingAndkillingmyANNABELLEE。
ButourloveitwasstrongerbyfarthantheloveOfthosewhowereolderthanwe-
Ofmanyfarwiserthanwe-
AndneithertheangelsinHeavenaboveNorthedemonsdownundertheseaCaneverdissevermysoulfromthesoulOfthebeautifulANNABELLEE：-
ForthemoonneverbeamswithoutbringingmedreamsOfthebeautifulANNABELLEE；
AndthestarsneverrisebutIseethebrighteyesOfthebeautifulANNABELLEE；
Andso，allthenight-tide，IliedownbythesideOfmydarling，mydarling，mylifeandmybrideInhersepulchretherebythesea-
Inhertombbythesideofthesea。
Forherthisrhymeispenned，whoseluminouseyes，BrightlyexpressiveasthetwinsofLoeda，Shallfindherownsweetname，that，nestlingliesUponthepage，enwrappedfromeveryreader。
Searchnarrowlythelines！theyholdatreasureDivineatalismananamuletThatmustbeworn_atheart_。Searchwellthemeasure
Thewordsthesyllables！DonotforgetThetrivialestpoint，oryoumayloseyourlabor！
AndyetthereisinthisnoGordianknotWhichonemightnotundowithoutasabre，Ifonecouldmerelycomprehendtheplot。
EnwrittenupontheleafwherenowarepeeringEyesscintillatingsoul，therelie_perdus_
ThreeeloquentwordsoftutteredinthehearingOfpoets，bypoetsasthenameisapoet’s，too。
Itsletters，althoughnaturallylyingLiketheknightPintoMendezFerdinando
StillformasynonymforTruthCeasetrying！
Youwillnotreadtheriddle，thoughyoudothebest_you_cando。
1846。
[Todiscoverthenamesinthisandthefollowingpoemreadthefirstletterofthefirstlineinconnectionwiththesecondletterofthesecondline，thethirdletterofthethirdline，thefourthofthefourthandsoontotheend。]
“Seldomwefind。”saysSolomonDonDunce，“Halfanideaintheprofoundestsonnet。
ThroughalltheflimsythingsweseeatonceAseasilyasthroughaNaplesbonnet-
Trashofalltrash！-how_can_aladydonit？
YetheavierfarthanyourPetrarchanstuff-
Owl-downynonsensethatthefaintestpuffTwirlsintotrunk-paperthewhileyouconit。”
And，veritably，Solisrightenough。
ThegeneraltuckermanitiesarearrantBubbles-ephemeraland_so_transparent-
But_this_is，now，-youmaydependuponit-
Stable，opaque，immortal-allbydintOfthedearnamesthatlieconcealedwithin’t。
BecauseIfeelthat，intheHeavensabove，Theangels，whisperingtooneanother，Canfind，amongtheirburningtermsoflove，Nonesodevotionalasthatof“Mother。”
ThereforebythatdearnameIlonghavecalledyou
Youwhoaremorethanmotheruntome，Andfillmyheartofhearts，whereDeathinstalledyouInsettingmyVirginia’sspiritfree。
Mymothermyownmother，whodiedearly，Wasbutthemotherofmyself；butyouAremothertotheoneIlovedsodearly，AndthusaredearerthanthemotherIknewBythatinfinitywithwhichmywifeWasdearertomysoulthanitssoul-life。
[Theabovewasaddressedtothepoet’smother-in-law，Mrs。ClemmEd。]
ThankHeaven！thecrisis
Thedangerispast，AndthelingeringillnessIsoveratlast
Andthefevercalled“Living“
Isconqueredatlast。
Sadly，IknowIamshornofmystrength，AndnomuscleImoveAsIlieatfulllength
Butnomatter！IfeelIambetteratlength。
AndIrestsocomposedly，Now，inmybed，ThatanybeholderMightfancymedead
Mightstartatbeholdingme，Thinkingmedead。
Themoaningandgroaning，Thesighingandsobbing，Arequietednow，WiththathorriblethrobbingAtheart：ah，thathorrible，Horriblethrobbing！
Thesicknessthenausea
Thepitilesspain
Haveceased，withthefeverThatmaddenedmybrain
Withthefevercalled“Living“
Thatburnedinmybrain。
Andoh！ofalltortures_That_torturetheworstHasabatedtheterribleTortureofthirstForthenaphthalineriverOfPassionaccurst：
IhavedrankofawaterThatquenchesallthirst：
Ofawaterthatflows，Withalullabysound，FromaspringbutaveryfewFeetunderground
FromacavernnotveryfarDownunderground。
Andah！letitneverBefoolishlysaidThatmyroomitisgloomyAndnarrowmybed；
FormanneversleptInadifferentbed
And，to_sleep_，youmustslumberInjustsuchabed。
MytantalizedspiritHereblandlyreposes，Forgetting，orneverRegrettingitsroses
ItsoldagitationsOfmyrtlesandroses：
Fornow，whilesoquietlyLying，itfanciesAholierodorAboutit，ofpansies
Arosemaryodor，Commingledwithpansies
WithrueandthebeautifulPuritanpansies。
Andsoitlieshappily，BathinginmanyAdreamofthetruthAndthebeautyofAnnie
DrownedinabathOfthetressesofAnnie。
Shetenderlykissedme，Shefondlycaressed，AndthenIfellgentlyTosleeponherbreast
DeeplytosleepFromtheheavenofherbreast。
Whenthelightwasextinguished，Shecoveredmewarm，AndsheprayedtotheangelsTokeepmefromharm
TothequeenoftheangelsToshieldmefromharm。
AndIliesocomposedly，Nowinmybed，Knowingherlove
Thatyoufancymedead
AndIrestsocontentedly，Nowinmybed，Withherloveatmybreast
Thatyoufancymedead
Thatyoushuddertolookatme，Thinkingmedead：
ButmyheartitisbrighterThanallofthemanyStarsinthesky，ForitsparkleswithAnnie
ItglowswiththelightOftheloveofmyAnnie
WiththethoughtofthelightOftheeyesofmyAnnie。
BELOVED！amidtheearnestwoesThatcrowdaroundmyearthlypath
Drearpath，alas！wheregrowsNotevenonelonelyrose
MysoulatleastasolacehathIndreamsofthee，andthereinknowsAnEdenofblandrepose。
AndthusthymemoryistomeLikesomeenchantedfar-offisleInsometumultuossea
SomeoceanthrobbingfarandfreeWithstormsbutwheremeanwhileSerenestskiescontinuallyJusto’rethatonebrightislandsmile。
THOUwouldstbeloved？-thenletthyheartFromitspresentpathwaypartnot！
Beingeverythingwhichnowthouart，Benothingwhichthouartnot。
Sowiththeworldthygentleways，Thygrace，thymorethanbeauty，Shallbeanendlessthemeofpraise，Andlove-asimpleduty。