Isawtheeonceonceonlyyearsago：
　　Imustnotsayhowmanybutnotmany。
　　ItwasaJulymidnight；andfromoutAfull-orbedmoon，that，likethineownsoul，soaring，Soughtaprecipitatepathwayupthroughheaven，Therefellasilvery-silkenveiloflight，Withquietude，andsultriness，andslumber，UpontheupturnedfacesofathousandRosesthatgrewinanenchantedgarden，Wherenowinddaredtostir，unlessontiptoe
　　Fellontheupturn’dfacesoftheserosesThatgaveout，inreturnforthelove-light，Theirodoroussoulsinanecstaticdeath
　　Fellontheupturn’dfacesoftheserosesThatsmiledanddiedinthisparterre，enchantedBythee，andbythepoetryofthypresence。
　　Cladallinwhite，uponavioletbankIsawtheehalfreclining；whilethemoonFellontheupturn’dfacesoftheroses，Andonthineown，upturn’d-alas，insorrow！
　　WasitnotFate，that，onthisJulymidnight-
　　WasitnotFate，whosenameisalsoSorrow，
　　Thatbademepausebeforethatgarden-gate，Tobreathetheincenseofthoseslumberingroses？
　　Nofootstepstirred：thehatedworldanslept，Saveonlytheeandme。Oh，Heaven！-oh，God！
　　Howmyheartbeatsincouplingthosetwowords！
　　Saveonlytheeandme。Ipaused-Ilooked-
　　Andinaninstantallthingsdisappeared。
　　Ah，bearinmindthisgardenwasenchanted！
　　Thepearlylustreofthemoonwentout：
　　Themossybanksandthemeanderingpaths，Thehappyflowersandtherepiningtrees，Wereseennomore：theveryroses’odorsDiedinthearmsoftheadoringairs。
　　All-allexpiredsavethee-savelessthanthou：
　　Saveonlythedivinelightinthineeyes-
　　Savebutthesoulinthineupliftedeyes。
　　Isawbutthem-theyweretheworldtome！
　　Isawbutthem-sawonlythemforhours，Sawonlythemuntilthemoonwentdown。
　　Whatwildheart-historiesseemedtoheenwrittenUponthosecrystalline，celestialspheres！
　　Howdarkawoe，yethowsublimeahope！
　　Howsilentlysereneaseaofpride！
　　Howdaringanambition；yethowdeep-
　　Howfathomlessacapacityforlove！
　　Butnow，atlength，dearDiansankfromsight，Intoawesterncouchofthunder-cloud；
　　Andthou，aghost，amidtheentombingtreesDidstglideaway。Onlythineeyesremained；
　　Theywouldnotgo-theyneveryethavegone；
　　Lightingmylonelypathwayhomethatnight，Theyhavenotleftmeasmyhopeshavesince；
　　Theyfollowme-theyleadmethroughtheyears。
　　TheyaremyministersyetItheirslave。
　　Theirofficeistoillumineandenkindle
　　Myduty，tobesavedbytheirbrightlight，Andpurifiedintheirelectricfire，Andsanctifiedintheirelysianfire。
　　TheyfillmysoulwithBeautywhichisHope，AndarefarupinHeaventhestarsIkneeltoInthesad，silentwatchesofmynight；
　　WhileeveninthemeridianglareofdayIseethemstilltwosweetlyscintillantVenuses，unextinguishedbythesun！
　　Itwasmanyandmanyayearago，Inakingdombythesea，ThatamaidenlivedwhomyoumayknowBythenameofANNABELLEE；-
　　AndthismaidenshelivedwithnootherthoughtThantoloveandbelovedbyme。
　　_I_wasachildand_She_wasachild，Inthiskingdombythesea，Butwelovedwithalovethatwasmorethanlove-
　　IandmyANNABELLEE-
　　Withalovethatthewing閐seraphsofHeavenCovetedherandme。
　　Andthiswasthereasonthat，longago，Inthiskingdombythesea，AwindblewoutofacloudbynightChillingmyANNABELLEE；
　　Sothatherhigh-bornkinsmencameAndboreherawayfromme，Toshutherup，inasepulchreInthiskingdombythesea。
　　Theangels，nothalfsohappyinHeaven，Wentenvyingherandme；
　　Yes！thatwasthereasonasallmenknow，Inthiskingdombythesea
　　Thatthewindcameoutofthecloud，chillingAndkillingmyANNABELLEE。
　　ButourloveitwasstrongerbyfarthantheloveOfthosewhowereolderthanwe-
　　Ofmanyfarwiserthanwe-
　　AndneithertheangelsinHeavenaboveNorthedemonsdownundertheseaCaneverdissevermysoulfromthesoulOfthebeautifulANNABELLEE：-
　　ForthemoonneverbeamswithoutbringingmedreamsOfthebeautifulANNABELLEE；
　　AndthestarsneverrisebutIseethebrighteyesOfthebeautifulANNABELLEE；
　　Andso，allthenight-tide，IliedownbythesideOfmydarling，mydarling，mylifeandmybrideInhersepulchretherebythesea-
　　Inhertombbythesideofthesea。
　　Forherthisrhymeispenned，whoseluminouseyes，BrightlyexpressiveasthetwinsofLoeda，Shallfindherownsweetname，that，nestlingliesUponthepage，enwrappedfromeveryreader。
　　Searchnarrowlythelines！theyholdatreasureDivineatalismananamuletThatmustbeworn_atheart_。Searchwellthemeasure
　　Thewordsthesyllables！DonotforgetThetrivialestpoint，oryoumayloseyourlabor！
　　AndyetthereisinthisnoGordianknotWhichonemightnotundowithoutasabre，Ifonecouldmerelycomprehendtheplot。
　　EnwrittenupontheleafwherenowarepeeringEyesscintillatingsoul，therelie_perdus_
　　ThreeeloquentwordsoftutteredinthehearingOfpoets，bypoetsasthenameisapoet’s，too。
　　Itsletters，althoughnaturallylyingLiketheknightPintoMendezFerdinando
　　StillformasynonymforTruthCeasetrying！
　　Youwillnotreadtheriddle，thoughyoudothebest_you_cando。
　　1846。
　　[Todiscoverthenamesinthisandthefollowingpoemreadthefirstletterofthefirstlineinconnectionwiththesecondletterofthesecondline，thethirdletterofthethirdline，thefourthofthefourthandsoontotheend。]
　　“Seldomwefind。”saysSolomonDonDunce，“Halfanideaintheprofoundestsonnet。
　　ThroughalltheflimsythingsweseeatonceAseasilyasthroughaNaplesbonnet-
　　Trashofalltrash！-how_can_aladydonit？
　　YetheavierfarthanyourPetrarchanstuff-
　　Owl-downynonsensethatthefaintestpuffTwirlsintotrunk-paperthewhileyouconit。”
　　And，veritably，Solisrightenough。
　　ThegeneraltuckermanitiesarearrantBubbles-ephemeraland_so_transparent-
　　But_this_is，now，-youmaydependuponit-
　　Stable，opaque，immortal-allbydintOfthedearnamesthatlieconcealedwithin’t。
　　BecauseIfeelthat，intheHeavensabove，Theangels，whisperingtooneanother，Canfind，amongtheirburningtermsoflove，Nonesodevotionalasthatof“Mother。”
　　ThereforebythatdearnameIlonghavecalledyou
　　Youwhoaremorethanmotheruntome，Andfillmyheartofhearts，whereDeathinstalledyouInsettingmyVirginia’sspiritfree。
　　Mymothermyownmother，whodiedearly，Wasbutthemotherofmyself；butyouAremothertotheoneIlovedsodearly，AndthusaredearerthanthemotherIknewBythatinfinitywithwhichmywifeWasdearertomysoulthanitssoul-life。
　　[Theabovewasaddressedtothepoet’smother-in-law，Mrs。ClemmEd。]
　　ThankHeaven！thecrisis
　　Thedangerispast，AndthelingeringillnessIsoveratlast
　　Andthefevercalled“Living“
　　Isconqueredatlast。
　　Sadly，IknowIamshornofmystrength，AndnomuscleImoveAsIlieatfulllength
　　Butnomatter！IfeelIambetteratlength。
　　AndIrestsocomposedly，Now，inmybed，ThatanybeholderMightfancymedead
　　Mightstartatbeholdingme，Thinkingmedead。
　　Themoaningandgroaning，Thesighingandsobbing，Arequietednow，WiththathorriblethrobbingAtheart：ah，thathorrible，Horriblethrobbing！
　　Thesicknessthenausea
　　Thepitilesspain
　　Haveceased，withthefeverThatmaddenedmybrain
　　Withthefevercalled“Living“
　　Thatburnedinmybrain。
　　Andoh！ofalltortures_That_torturetheworstHasabatedtheterribleTortureofthirstForthenaphthalineriverOfPassionaccurst：
　　IhavedrankofawaterThatquenchesallthirst：
　　Ofawaterthatflows，Withalullabysound，FromaspringbutaveryfewFeetunderground
　　FromacavernnotveryfarDownunderground。
　　Andah！letitneverBefoolishlysaidThatmyroomitisgloomyAndnarrowmybed；
　　FormanneversleptInadifferentbed
　　And，to_sleep_，youmustslumberInjustsuchabed。
　　MytantalizedspiritHereblandlyreposes，Forgetting，orneverRegrettingitsroses
　　ItsoldagitationsOfmyrtlesandroses：
　　Fornow，whilesoquietlyLying，itfanciesAholierodorAboutit，ofpansies
　　Arosemaryodor，Commingledwithpansies
　　WithrueandthebeautifulPuritanpansies。
　　Andsoitlieshappily，BathinginmanyAdreamofthetruthAndthebeautyofAnnie
　　DrownedinabathOfthetressesofAnnie。
　　Shetenderlykissedme，Shefondlycaressed，AndthenIfellgentlyTosleeponherbreast
　　DeeplytosleepFromtheheavenofherbreast。
　　Whenthelightwasextinguished，Shecoveredmewarm，AndsheprayedtotheangelsTokeepmefromharm
　　TothequeenoftheangelsToshieldmefromharm。
　　AndIliesocomposedly，Nowinmybed，Knowingherlove
　　Thatyoufancymedead
　　AndIrestsocontentedly，Nowinmybed，Withherloveatmybreast
　　Thatyoufancymedead
　　Thatyoushuddertolookatme，Thinkingmedead：
　　ButmyheartitisbrighterThanallofthemanyStarsinthesky，ForitsparkleswithAnnie
　　ItglowswiththelightOftheloveofmyAnnie
　　WiththethoughtofthelightOftheeyesofmyAnnie。
　　BELOVED！amidtheearnestwoesThatcrowdaroundmyearthlypath
　　Drearpath，alas！wheregrowsNotevenonelonelyrose
　　MysoulatleastasolacehathIndreamsofthee，andthereinknowsAnEdenofblandrepose。
　　AndthusthymemoryistomeLikesomeenchantedfar-offisleInsometumultuossea
　　SomeoceanthrobbingfarandfreeWithstormsbutwheremeanwhileSerenestskiescontinuallyJusto’rethatonebrightislandsmile。
　　THOUwouldstbeloved？-thenletthyheartFromitspresentpathwaypartnot！
　　Beingeverythingwhichnowthouart，Benothingwhichthouartnot。
　　Sowiththeworldthygentleways，Thygrace，thymorethanbeauty，Shallbeanendlessthemeofpraise，Andlove-asimpleduty。