The mystery of Edgar Allan Poe continues. Beginning in 1949, Poe's grave has been visited every year by a mystery man, during the early hours of Poe's birthday, January 19th.
It has been reported that a man draped in black with a silver-tipped cane, kneels at the grave for a toast of Martel Cognac and leaves the half-full bottle and three red roses. The three red roses supposedly are in memory of Poe himself, his mother, and his wife. Poe is believed to be buried on the grounds of what is now the University of Maryland Law School in Baltimore.
Considered by many to be the progenitor of detective and crime fiction in the United States, his cause of death at the age of 40, and his actual burial place remain shrouded in mystery and controversy.
Have a shot of Cognac today and think of Edgar...
From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I loved, I loved alone.
Then- in my childhood, in the dawn
Of a most stormy life- was drawn
From every depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still:
From the torrent, or the fountain,
From the red cliff of the mountain,
From the sun that round me rolled
In its autumn tint of gold,
From the lightning in the sky
As it passed me flying by,
From the thunder and the storm,
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view.
Alone, a poem by E.A. Poe
9 comments:
That's a wonderful poem by Poe. I can relate.
I like the poem, but I have a question about the story.
"It has been reported that a man draped in black with a silver-tipped cane, kneels at the grave for a toast..."
-then-
"Poe is believed to be buried on the grounds of what is now the University of Maryland Law School in Baltimore."
If they don't know for sure where the grave is then how can they report about a mysterious guy showing up there?
Just askin'...
I can relate too...
Jaye, it is accepted by most that Poe is buried at the U of M Law School site there is doubters and controversy. SEE BELOW Article from the US Naval Academy English Department:
http://www.usna.edu/EnglishDept/poeperplex/gravep.htm
"Edgar's existence is still shrouded in controversy, scandal, and ambiguities: his death, burial, and grave have become subjects of intense interest to those who believe Edgar Allan Poe is not buried beneath his monument but beside his grandfather, General Poe. Critics continue to speculate on Poe's true ailment during his last days in the hospital, the coffin in which he was buried, the location of his grave, and the body which was exhumed that was claimed to be Poe's. Facts gathered over the century point to the possibility that Poe is indeed still buried beside his grandfather and that public perceptions of Poe's last days, death, burial, grave, and exhumation were skewed."
Happy Birthday Edgar, from the southern end of the Poe trail.
I think I'm close enough to Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA - where Poe served and was discharged from the army - to say that.
Lisa S.,
My old stomping grounds, that part of Virginia. If the Chamberlain Hotel is still standing at the entrance of Ft. Monroe, they have the best champagne brunch on Sundays - or at least they used to...
Alone was the first Poe poem I ever read. Fell in love with Poe when I got to the last line,
"Of a demon in my view."
I believe I was 11 when I read that, in a lit. class. And, of course, cognac later became my most fav drink at weddings. Poe definitely knew how to throw 'em down.
It's fitting in some way that Poe's last days and burial place are still shrouded in mystieries. He'd have liked that.
Prost!
rj,
Alas the Chamberlain is being converted into senior housing and Fort Monroe got the whack from BRAC.
Lisa,
That is sad. Another historical party spot down the shitter. They still had ballroom dancing there when I was a kid. I have now officially become my dad.
Please bow your head as my youth passes by.....sob, sob..,,,,,,,
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