The thing inside
that craves the cask
that makes the body
do its bidding—
lower and lower
by plunge or by degrees—
cannot be walled
as anchorites well know.
If it has a body
then it lives on
though it may back itself
into an inner grotto.
So they are right who say
I "am" not "was" an addict
who self-aware depend upon
the Higher Power
and consider it a boon
to see what is pathetic.
Very very good poem on Poe and alcoholism. I do not know if drinking affected his writing in a bad way but it certainly affected his personal life.
Part Two- Poe's poetry certainly has rhythm and his use of repetition in them is superb. He is the Master of atmosphere... BUT I do not connect with the romance or love themes in his poetry. They ring false to me unlike the very real horror in his short stories
Part One. [Upon Reading Poe's Annabel Lee]- - Glen, I don't think there is a writer alive than can writer horror short stories as well as Poe. That darn heart of his beats under my floor at night and that pendulum of his continues to swing.. inexorably swings to and fro. closer and closer. Shiver.
I tried to post the following response to your comment on my poem about Poe's Annabel Lee but PH refuses to post it- -rolling my eyes here- -so I am going to try to post it here and see if PH still has a problem with it.
By the way, that title is a great play on words involving cask, alcohol, and craving!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
You mean sin craves the grave? Yes, like a big dog it pulls us on a leash. What's the Poe connection?
the poe reference is to his story the cask of amantillado, a revenge story. the man who's the recipient of the revenge would have spared himself if he hadn't been so tempted by (in the case of the story) the wine. -glen