For Edgar: on his deathday (Oct 7th, 2021)

On Poe I ponder, in early morning 

Of sickly signs to yearly mourning. 

His kingdoms spout in seas of love

A love of loves that is more than love 

Late hours lost, heartache bemoans 

Our Raven wraith; pecking board. 

With Raving thoughts 

Old ghosts implore 

The presence of a golden breath 

Living nevermore ----- 

For Edgar, 

On this day you've died, 

Yet your words have not been muted. 

I've picked up a pen because of you 

These words cannot be disputed. 

Some have seen you as a madman 

Why, I must confess now Mr. Poe: 

That genius will always have a catalyst 

For artistic explosions.

* Eastern Shore Writing Association held The Life and Death of Edgar Allan Poe in 2021.

Historian, author, and poet, Christopher T. George had given a writing prompt on what Poe means to me, using a word or words from this list: Kingdom, Sea, Child, Ghost, Wraith, Lost, Loss, Nevermore, Raven, Breath, Heart, Heartache. I comprised these poems and then gave a reading of them.