Poem 13 — 100 Days of Poetry
About the Poem:
To One in Paradise by Edgar Allan Poe is a deeply emotional and melancholic poem that expresses grief over a lost love. Poe’s haunting imagery and rhythmic style convey the intense sorrow and longing felt for someone who has passed away, with references to the beauty of nature intertwined with the pain of loss. The poem reflects Poe's recurring themes of love, death, and the tragic fragility of life.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) is one of the most iconic figures in American literature, known for his gothic tales and poetry that explore dark and emotional depths. To One in Paradise is a perfect example of his ability to combine vivid imagery with powerful emotion.
To One in Paradise — Edgar Allan Poe
Thou wast that all to me, love,
For which my soul did pine—
A green isle in the sea, love,
A fountain and a shrine,
All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,
And all the flowers were mine.
Ah, dream too bright to last!
Ah, starry Hope! that didst arise
But to be overcast!
A voice from out the Future cries,
“On! on!”—but o’er the Past
(Dim gulf!) my spirit hovering lies
Mute, motionless, aghast!
For, alas! alas! with me
The light of Life is o’er!
No more—no more—no more—
(Such language holds the solemn sea
To the sands upon the shore)
Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree,
Or the stricken eagle soar!
And all my days are trances,
And all my nightly dreams
Are where thy grey eye glances,
And where thy footstep gleams—
In what ethereal dances,
By what eternal streams.
My Reflections on the Poem:
Recording To One in Paradise was an intense experience due to the deep sense of loss Poe evokes in every line. His ability to blend sorrow with imagery from nature creates a haunting, almost otherworldly atmosphere. It’s a reminder of how grief and beauty can exist side by side, and how love, even after death, continues to resonate through memories and dreams.
This post is part of my 100 Days of Poetry series, where I embarked on a journey to record and share 100 poems over 100 days in 2017. Although the series was interrupted, I’m delighted to continue sharing these timeless works with you.
