To M.L.S--- by Edgar Allan Poe
"To M.L.S---" is written by Edgar Allan Poe. This poem was written for Marie Louise Shew, who helped Poe's wife Virginia as she was dying. It is a poem to show his deep gratitude (he even calls her an angel). The original version was sent to her dated February 14, 1847. This is the revised version printed in Home Journal on March 13, 1847.
This poem is written as one stanza. There is not a specific rhyme scheme. However, the rhymes that do occur are for structural purposes. Of course, other rhymes occur simply by happenstance.
To M.L.S--- Of all who hail thy presence as the morning- Of all to whom thine absence is the night- The blotting utterly from out high heaven The sacred sun- of all who, weeping, bless thee Hourly for hope- for life- ah! above all, For the resurrection of deep-buried faith In Truth- in Virtue- in Humanity- Of all who, on Despair's unhallowed bed Lying down to die, have suddenly arisen At thy soft-murmured words, "Let there be light!" At the soft-murmured words that were fulfilled In the seraphic glancing of thine eyes- Of all who owe thee most- whose gratitude Nearest resembles worship- oh, remember The truest- the most fervently devoted, And think that these weak lines are written by him- By him who, as he pens them, thrills to think His spirit is communing with an angel's. Published in 1847.
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Romanticism, 19th Century