https://poemofday.com/tags/despair/Recent content in Despair on Poem of the DayHugo -- gohugo.ioen-usSun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://poemofday.com/p/the-raven/Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://poemofday.com/p/the-raven/<p>Once upon a midnight dreary, as I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— While I nodded, napping suddenly, there came a tapping gently, rapping, &ldquo;A visitor,&rdquo; I muttered, &ldquo;tapping at my chamber door— Only this and nothing more.&rdquo;</p> <p>Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each dying, glowing ember cast its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore— For the radiant girl whom the angels named Lenore— Nameless here forevermore.</p> <p>And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of the purple curtain Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, &ldquo;Sir or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently came your rapping, And so faint the tapping, tapping, tapping at my chamber door— That I scarce was sure I heard you&rdquo;—here I opened wide the door;— Darkness there and nothing more.</p>