The first printed version of “The Raven” appeared in the _Evening Mirror_ (New York) on the 29th of January, 1845; in 1843 Poe had been writing for the _New Mirror_, another New York paper, which in the number for Saturday, October 14th, 1843, contained a poem in twelve stanzas, entitled _Isadore_. This poem was written by Mr. Albert Pike, a well-known American _littérateur_, and was prefaced by an editorial note, stating that the poem was one of the imagination only, as the Poet’s wife was then alive and perfectly well. ―――――――― ISADORE. “Thou art lost to me for ever, I have lost thee, Isadore,―― Thy head will never rest upon my loyal bosom more. Thy tender eyes will never more gaze fondly into mine, Nor thine arms around me lovingly and trustingly entwine: Thou art lost to me for ever, Isadore!” “My footsteps through the rooms resound all sadly and forlore; The garish sun shines flauntingly upon the unswept floor; The mocking-bird still sits and sings a melancholy strain, For my heart is like a heavy cloud that overflows with rain. Thou art lost to me for ever, Isadore.” * * * * * “Thou art gone from me for ever, I have lost thee, Isadore! And desolate and lonely shall I be for evermore. If it were not for our children’s sake, I would not wish to stay, But would pray to God most earnestly to let me pass away,―― And be joined to thee in Heaven, Isadore.” In “Isadore” the most distinctive――the only salient――feature is the refrain with which each stanza concludes; the metre and rhythm are much less dexterously managed than in “The Raven,” but it was evidently the author’s intention to produce an effect similar to that which Poe, with superior skill, did subsequently create. [Illustration] ANNABEL LEE. I. It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea, That a maiden there lived whom you may know By the name of ANNABEL LEE; And this maiden she lived with no other thought Than to love and be loved by me. II. _I_ was a child, and _she_ was a child, In this kingdom by the sea; But we loved with a love that was more than love, I and my ANNABEL LEE; With a love that the wingèd seraphs of heaven Coveted her and me. III. And this was the reason that, long ago, In this kingdom by the sea, A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling My beautiful ANNABEL LEE; So that her highborn kinsmen came, And bore her away from me, To shut her up in a sepulchre In this kingdom by the sea. IV.