It Was Night In The Lonesome October

...of my most immemorial year.

So begins E.A. Poe's classic poem: 'Ulalume.' And what a poem it is! Often overshadowed by Poe's more famous works, such as 'The Raven,' 'The Bells,' and 'Annabel Lee,' Ulalume is a frightfully chilling poem that not only takes place in the month of October, but on the night of all nights in October... Halloween! With today being the first day of that melancholy month, I thought I would shine a little candlelight upon this under appreciated gem.

Our talk had been serious and sober,

But our thoughts they were palsied and sere--

Our memories were treacherous and sere,--

For we knew not the month was October,

And we marked not the night of the year

(Ah, night of all nights in the year!)--

We noted not the dim lake of Auber

(Though once we had journeyed down here)--

Remembered not the dank tarn of Auber,

Nor the ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir.

If you're looking for a spooky read this October that is a little off the beaten path, you can't go wrong with Ulalume. A tale of love and loss (aren't they all from Poe?) this gem contains some startling imagery and a bizarre, rather cryptic final stanza. For those interested but who suffer from a debilitating case of bibliophobia, here's a link to get your started:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulalume

Give it a read and tell me what you think!