(19 January 1809 - 7 October 1849 / Boston)

poet Edgar Allan Poe
#6 on top 500 poets
User Rating:
6.3 / 10
( 128 votes )
What do you think this poem is about?

A Valentine

For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes,
Brightly expressive as the twins of Leda,
Shall find her own sweet name, that nestling lies
Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader.
Search narrowly the lines!- they hold a treasure
Divine- a talisman- an amulet
That must be worn at heart. Search well the measure-
The words- the syllables! Do not forget
The trivialest point, or you may lose your labor
And yet there is in this no Gordian knot
Which one might not undo without a sabre,
If one could merely comprehend the plot.
Enwritten upon the leaf where now are peering
Eyes scintillating soul, there lie perdus
Three eloquent words oft uttered in the hearing
Of poets, by poets- as the name is a poet's, too,
Its letters, although naturally lying
Like the knight Pinto- Mendez Ferdinando-
Still form a synonym for Truth- Cease trying!
You will not read the riddle, though you do the best you can do.

Submitted: Tuesday, December 31, 2002


Read poems about / on: truth, valentine, heart, lost

Comments about this poem (A Valentine by Edgar Allan Poe )

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  • Jeanette Crisp-witherigton (1/25/2012 10:40:00 AM)

    i love his poems soooo much!

    35 person liked.
    		33 person did not like.
  • Jordyn Williamson (11/28/2011 10:59:00 AM)

    I just love Poe's poems! They are breath-taking, intense, sad, cruel, lonely, dark, and horror. He's the perfect example for a gothic poet, and there will be no other. All his poems have different meanings, but if you look pass the words, you can see his past was like, and what he hoped and dreamed his future would be like. Agony and pain made Poe who he is; one of the best poets to ever live!

    54 person liked.
    		27 person did not like.
  • James Frederick Caldwell (3/18/2010 12:01:00 AM)

    @Bhaswat Chakraborty: Nice pun

    26 person liked.
    		36 person did not like.
  • Bhaswat Chakraborty (4/13/2009 6:39:00 AM)

    All I can say about this poem is that it is very 'Poe'-tic.

    42 person liked.
    		41 person did not like.
  • Mel Vincent Basconcillo (3/8/2009 12:42:00 AM)

    A good poem. very inspiring and really great! ! !

    26 person liked.
    		24 person did not like.
  • Aaron Allander (3/7/2007 6:02:00 PM)

    I understand Poe I lead a life almost like his terribly sad really but i still get the encoragement and love from him ♥

    34 person liked.
    		21 person did not like.
  • Jabalimuni Putrevu (5/30/2005 9:23:00 PM)

    Poe praises the eyes the receiver of the valentine as 'brightly expressive as the twins of Lead (Castor and Pollus) .The receiver has to unearth the meaning hidden in the rhyme.
    jabalimuni

    28 person liked.
    		21 person did not like.
  • Sandra Osborne (3/18/2005 2:37:00 AM)

    Brilliant, just brilliant.

    25 person liked.
    		24 person did not like.
  • Bill Mckenney (12/13/2004 10:53:00 PM)

    Celine,
    Look closer and You'll see this Valentine was written for
    Frances Sargent Osgood.
    (See comments for An Enigma)

    35 person liked.
    		21 person did not like.
  • celine charcoal (11/24/2004 7:37:00 PM)

    you r ugly edgar, i m sorry for u

    15 person liked.
    		57 person did not like.
Read all 10 comments »

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