About the Poet
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer, poet, and literary critic, born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts. Orphaned at a young age, he was taken in by John and Frances Allan, but his relationship with them was tumultuous. Poe attended the University of Virginia but left due to financial difficulties and later enlisted in the Army.
Poe’s literary career began with the publication of his first collection of poems in 1827, but he gained wider recognition through his short stories, particularly those featuring themes of horror and the macabre. His notable works include “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.” He is also credited with pioneering the detective fiction genre with “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.”
Despite his literary success, Poe struggled with personal demons, including alcoholism and depression. He experienced significant losses in his life, including the death of his wife, Virginia Clemm, in 1847. On October 7, 1849, Poe died under mysterious circumstances in Baltimore, Maryland. His legacy endures through his profound influence on literature, particularly in the genres of horror and mystery, making him a key figure in American Romanticism.
With a poem exploring the themes of grief, despair, and the nature of death, I wanted to add a little levity to the post. Here are two of my favorite Edgar Allan Poe memes.
Edgar Allan Poe used to write with his cat, Caterina, on his shoulder. A visitor to Poe’s home observed the cat “purring as if in approval of the work proceeding under her supervision.” If you ever owned a cat, you know they can be judgmental creatures, and occasionally, they judge us worthy of a purr. Just one more reason to love Poe.
Joe
The Closet Professor 
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