The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore--

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door--

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door--



Only this and nothing more."



Ah, distinctlyI remember it was in teh bleak December;

And each separate dying ember wrought 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 rare and radiant maiden whom the angles name Lenore--



Nameless here for evermore.



And the silken, sad, uncertian rustling of each purple curtian

Thrilled me-- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating

"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door--

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;--



This it is and nothing more."



Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

"Sir" said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I inplore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you; --here I opened wide the door;--



Darkness there and nothing more.



Deep into that datkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"

This I whispered , and an echo murmered back the word, "Lenore!"



Merely this and nothing more.



Back into the chamber turning, all by soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.