QUEZON City, Philippines (September 19) – “But we love with the love that was more than love.” A great line that I would never forget from one of my favorite poem, “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe.
But maybe its not the poem that lingers with me. I also remember the day but the day I got to know Edgar Allan Poe.
Like many young people, I used to hate the past. I hate studying history. During my high school days, I am not interested in any literary works. After all, those who have written these poems are already dead. Why bother spending hours studying their works.
Little did I know that my encounter with Edgar Allan Poe’s “Annabel Lee” would change me. It helped me developed my taste for literature.
I was obsessed with “Annabel Lee”. And like any new fan, I spent lots of time researching about the poem and the poet.
I was surprised to find out that the life of poets greatly influenced their works. I found out that Annabel Lee is the epitome of his great love and great loss.
Now, I greatly admire poets – their sensitivity, their ability to express their feelings through exquisite choice of words.
My mind was blown away by how they are able to tantalize the readers by not revealing the whole – just letting us peek in the little bits and pieces. That’s when I realized that poets are essential part of the society. They gave meaning to the hidden parts of us.
Edgar Allan Poe will always be a big part of my existence. He might be dead but his words are still alive inside me.
(written by Leslie Mendoza, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Vince Alvin Villarin)