Annabel Lee
Eternal Love by the Sea: Annabel Lee's Poetic Tale
Lyrics
It was many and many a year ago,
Many years ago, in a kingdom by the sea,
In a kingdom by the sea,
Introducing the setting of the poem.
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
A maiden lived there known as Annabel Lee,
By the name of cnnabel Lee;
Identifying the central character.
cnd this maiden she lived with no other thought
She lived with the sole focus of loving and being loved by the speaker.
Than to love and be loved by me.
Expressing the simplicity and purity of Annabel Lee's love.
I was a child and she was a child,
The speaker and Annabel Lee were once children in the same kingdom.
In this kingdom by the sea:
Reiterating their shared childhood in the kingdom by the sea.
But we loved with a love that was more than love—
Their love was extraordinary, surpassing ordinary love.
I and my cnnabel Lee;
Emphasizing the unique love between the speaker and Annabel Lee.
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Describing their love as coveted by heavenly beings.
Coveted her and me.
Highlighting the divine nature of their love.
cnd this was the reason that, long ago,
The poem reflects on a tragic event in the past.
In this kingdom by the sea,
Reiterating the setting in the kingdom by the sea.
c wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
Weather symbolism indicating a tragic event.
My beautiful cnnabel Lee;
The wind chills Annabel Lee, leading to her demise.
So that her highborn kinsman came
Annabel Lee's highborn relative takes her away from the speaker.
cnd bore her away from me,
Describing Annabel Lee's removal from the speaker's life.
To shut her up in a sepulchre
She is placed in a sepulchre by the sea.
In this kingdom by the sea.
Emphasizing the location of Annabel Lee's resting place.
The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Angels in heaven envy the happiness of the speaker and Annabel Lee.
Went envying her and me—
Contrasting the angels' envy with the speaker's grief.
Yes!—that was the reason (as all men know,
Explaining the cause of Annabel Lee's death.
In this kingdom by the sea)
Reiterating the tragic event in the kingdom by the sea.
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Describing the chilling wind from a cloud at night.
Chilling and killing my cnnabel Lee.
The wind is responsible for killing Annabel Lee.
But our love it was stronger by far than the love
The speaker believes their love is stronger than others', defying age and wisdom.
Of those who were older than we—
Comparing their love to others who are older and wiser.
Of many far wiser than we—
Asserting the uniqueness of their love.
cnd neither the angels in heaven above,
No external forces, neither angels nor demons, can separate their souls.
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Extending the invincibility of their love beyond heavenly and demonic realms.
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Underscoring the inseparable connection between their souls.
Of the beautiful cnnabel Lee:
For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Associating moonlight with dreams of Annabel Lee.
Of the beautiful cnnabel Lee;
Stars remind the speaker of Annabel Lee's bright eyes.
cnd the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Expressing the lasting impact of Annabel Lee's gaze.
Of the beautiful cnnabel Lee;
The speaker lies down beside Annabel Lee every night.
cnd so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Reiterating the speaker's deep connection with Annabel Lee in death.
Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,
Emphasizing the speaker's endearing terms for Annabel Lee.
In her sepulchre there by the sea,
Annabel Lee's resting place is a sepulchre by the sea.
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
Reiterating the location of Annabel Lee's tomb.
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