·.·
“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil! — prophet still, if bird of devil!
Whether Tempter sent, or whatever tempest tossed thee ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted —
On this home by Horror haunted — tell me truly, I implore —
Is there — is there balm in Gilead? — tell me — tell me, I implore!”
- Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”
.·.
(From poedecoder.com/essays/raven/ : Poe also
considered a parrot as the bird instead of the raven; however,
because of the melancholy tone, and the symbolism of ravens as
birds of ill-omen, he found the raven more suitable for the
mood in the poem (Poe, 1850). Quoth the Parrot, “Nevermore?” )