Sean of the Pen

Annabel Lee is one of my favorite poems by Edgar Allan Poe. Here’s an excerpt: 

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride, In the sepulchre there by the sea, In her tomb by the sounding sea.  

Poe’s wife Virginia is often assumed to be the inspiration for “Annabel Lee”. She had died 2 years prior. Another inspiration could also be a local legend in Charleston, South Carolina. It tells the story of a sailor who met a woman named Annabel Lee. Her father disapproved of the pairing and the two met privately in a graveyard before the sailor’s time stationed in Charleston was up. 

While away, he heard of Annabel’s death from yellow fever, but her father would not allow him at the funeral. Because he did not know her exact burial location, he instead kept vigil in the cemetery where they had often secretly met. There is no evidence that Edgar Allan Poe had heard of this legend, but locals insist it was his inspiration, especially considering Poe was briefly stationed in Charleston while in the army in 1827. Via Wiki. 

“Demons'R'Us, how can we help you today?” “I have a history test today, can an old demon possess me and pass it?” “Certainly, that will cost a twentieth of a human soul.” “Can I pay with a hamster’s soul?” “Absolutely not! Sacrificing an innocent animal? Shame on you! Good bye!”

— Micro SF/F stories (@MicroSFF) June 27, 2018

Dude about to make haikus:

POEM

DOES-N’T

RHYME

“Dude about to make haikus” =  1+2+1+1+2 = 7

(Agreed on “poem,” that’s two syllables)