Halloween Countdown, Day 1

[eldritchhobbit]

Happy October! Let the countdown commence! Thank you for joining me for the tenth year of my blog-a-thon celebration of Halloween.

Let's begin on a classic note. Why not start with the very best?

This photo ("takeoff") is by the amazing lizziebelle.

"The Lake -- To --" by Edgar Allan Poe
(This version is from The Raven and Other Poems, 1845.)

In spring of youth it was my lot
To haunt of the wide world a spot
The which I could not love the less --
So lovely was the loneliness
Of a wide lake, with black rock bound,
And the tall pines that towered around.

But when the Night had thrown her pall
Upon that spot, as upon all,
And the mystic wind went by
Murmuring in melody --
Then -- ah then I would awake
To the terror of the lone lake.

Yet that terror was not fright,
But a tremulous delight --
A feeling not the jewelled mine
Could teach or bribe me to define --
Nor Love -- although the Love were thine.

Death was in that poisonous wave,
And in its gulf a fitting grave
For him who thence could solace bring
To his lone imagining
Whose solitary soul could make
An Eden of that dim lake.

Comments

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

What a great picture! Like the poem, there's beauty and terror.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I was very pleased the crow cooperated. ;)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you like it! lizziebelle takes amazing photos, doesn't she?

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thank you for pairing my pic with Poe! I've lived in the cities where he was born and where he died.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank *you* for allowing me to share your amazing photography!

I just got back from another pilgrimage to the Poe Museum in Richmond. Pics soon! :)

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Yay! I have yet to make it into Boston to get a pic of the new statue there.

[homespunheart.livejournal.com]

Perfect start to Halloween! Eerie picture and Poe...what more could one ask!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm so tickled that you enjoyed it. May your October be spooktacular!

[internet-sampo.livejournal.com]

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

*collapses in squee* My. Day. Is. Made.

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

This is the PERFECT October 1st post! Thank you so much for doing these posts, they are a bright spot in my day! :D

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so happy you think so! Thanks for your kind words. I'm delighted to share this with you.

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

Yay! Looking forward to another Halloween countdown on your blog! This poem was gorgeous and spooky.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Yay!

[rhi]

Oh, those are both glorious! Thank you for such a lovely October start!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm so glad you liked them!