Not long ago, I came across this archaic poem that read funny to me.
On the surface, it was one of those nineteenth-century love poems
that makes little sense to us now because of its big words mixed with
our Artificially Ignorant (AI) minds from "clicking now" for anything
that we need, anytime we want. But that wasn't on my mind as I
reread those words several times searching for the correct
understanding associate with each letter. That's when the secret
meaning came to me: it's not just a well worded poem, it's an Acrostic
Poem.
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| What Sayeth You, AI? |
What is an Acrostic Poem?
Acrostic writing is a form of poetry where the first letter of each line, read vertically, spells out a word or phrase.
Expert Samples From The Experts Watching Over Us.
This poem is one of several acrostics Poe wrote for the amusement of female admirers. Here, the first letter of each line spells “Elizabeth.” In the following text, the key for the acrostic is shown in red:
Elizabethitisinvainyousay
Lovenotthousayestitinsosweetaway
InvainthosewordsfromtheeorLEL
Zantippestalentshadenforcedsowell
Ahifthatlanguagefromthyheartarise
Breatheitlessgentlyforthandveilthineeyes
EndymionrecollectwhenLunatried
Tocurehislovewascuredofallbeside
Hisfollyprideandpassionforhedied
The poem was never published during his lifetime. It was discovered by James H. Whitty, who in his 1911 edition of Poe's poems printed it with the title “From an Album.”
L. E. L. is presumably Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802-1838), a popular English poetess who typically signed her poems with those initials.
Zantippe is actually Xanthippe, the wife of the famous Greek philosopher Socrates. Poe intentionally misspelled the name for the sake of the acrostic. Xanthippe, sometimes also spelled Xantippe, was known for her quick and violent temper. Somewhat humorously, Socrates is reputed to have explained to Alcibiades that he remained married to her because “She exercises my patience, and enables me to endure all injustice I experience from others.”
- E: lizabeth, it is in vain you say
- L: ove not — thou sayest it in so sweet a way:
- I: n vain those words from thee or L. E. L.
- Z: ealous of my despair, you make me so
- A: nd when I look upon thee, you are my only hope
- B: ut I will write a poem for you that can last forever
- E: very moment I spent thinking of you will be a line in this poem
- T: hat your name will be remembered forever
- H: ow I wish that you will be happy with this poem
- E: ye of the Garden, Queene of flowres,
- L: ove's cup wherein he nectar powres,
- I: ngendered first of nectar;
- S: weet nurse-child of the Spring's young howres,
- A: nd Beautie's faire character …
- B: ecause the world is beautiful, and the world is ours.
- E: verything in the world will be better.
- T: he world will change.
- H: appiness will come to you.
- A: ll will be well.
- A: boat, beneath a sunny sky
- L: ingering onward dreamily
- I: n an evening of July—
- C: hasing after the moon
- E: verything a dream
- H: ow the Chimney-sweepers cry.
- O: f every blackning Church appalls,
- W: here the hapless Soldiers sigh.
- T: hat runs in blood down Palace walls.
- H: ow the tears run down your face
- E: very night you cry alone
- C: arelessly you fall
- H: earts are broken in the process.
- I: n the darkness, you are alone.
- M: ay you find your way home.
- N: ever stop looking for the light.
- E: very night you will find it.
- Y: ou will get there someday.
- S: ee the sun shining on your face.
- W: ill you go home?
- E: ventually, you will find your way home.
- E: verything will be alright.
- P: erfectly safe, you will be.
- E: very night you will rest.
- R: eaching for the light, you will get there someday.
- S: ee the sun shining on your face.
- C: hildren of the world, you will get there someday.
- R: eaching for the light, you will get there someday.
- Y: ou will get there
