The Happiest Day, the Happiest Hour

Edgar Allan Poe 1809 (Boston) – 1849 (Baltimore)



The happiest day- the happiest hour
        My sear'd and blighted heart hath known,
      The highest hope of pride and power,
        I feel hath flown.

      Of power! said I? yes! such I ween;
        But they have vanish'd long, alas!
      The visions of my youth have been-
        But let them pass.

      And, pride, what have I now with thee?
        Another brow may even inherit
      The venom thou hast pour'd on me
        Be still, my spirit!

      The happiest day- the happiest hour
        Mine eyes shall see- have ever seen,
      The brightest glance of pride and power,
        I feel- have been:

      But were that hope of pride and power
        Now offer'd with the pain
      Even then I felt- that brightest hour
        I would not live again:

      For on its wing was dark alloy,
        And, as it flutter'd- fell
      An essence- powerful to destroy
        A soul that knew it well.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 02, 2023

45 sec read
311

Quick analysis:

Scheme Abab bcdc efef Axad axax ghgh
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 903
Words 147
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor, and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. more…

All Edgar Allan Poe poems | Edgar Allan Poe Books

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