Tamerlane and Other Poems

by Edgar Allan Poe

THE greater part of the Poems which compose this little volume, were written in the year 1821-2, when the author had not completed his fourteenth year. They were of course not intended for publication; why they are now published concerns no one but himself. Of the smaller pieces very little need be said; they perhaps savour too much of Egotism; but they were written by one too young to have any knowledge of the world but from his own breast.In Tamerlane, he has endeavoured to expose the folly of even risking the best feelings of the heart at the shrine of Ambition. He is conscious that in this there are many faults, (besides that of the general character of the poem) which he flatters himself he could, with little trouble, have corrected, but unlike many of his predecessors, has been too fond of his early productions to amend them in his old age. ­[page ]He will not say that he is indifferent as to the success of these Poems — it might stimulate him to other attempts — but he can safely assert that failure will not at all influence him in a resolution already adopted. This is challenging criticism — let it be so. Nos hæc novimus esse nihil.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Gothic, Fiction, Horror, American

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1827

About the author

The name Poe brings to mind images of murderers and madmen, premature burials, and mysterious women who return from the dead. His works have been in print since 1827 and include such literary classics as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Fall of the House of Usher. This versatile writer’s oeuvre includes short stories, poetry, a novel, a textbook, a book of scientific theory, and hundreds of essays and book reviews. He is widely acknowledged as the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre, but he made his living as America’s first great literary critic and theoretician. Poe’s reputation today rests primarily on his tales of terror as well as on his haunting lyric poetry.

Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.

The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Poe's first printed work, published in 1827 when he was eighteen. It is a slim volume--a pamphlet, really--of 40 pages. Only 12 copies survive. It reveals an earnest young man and a serious poet. No clear evidence of genius yet.

Two things struck me during my reading: 1) Poe's poetry--and his posturing--is usually compared to Byron's, but the poems here remind me more of Keats, his sense of loss and fear of death, and 1) how different is this early version of "Tamerlane" from his later revisions, when he strove not only to achieve concision but also to minimize--indeed, virtually eliminate--the poem's original narrative element, leaving almost nothing but emotion . . .the love of beauty and the terror of its loss.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars are given for the precious nature that within this volume contain the seeds of of the genius of Poe. This book is truly a gem in that it provides Poe's earliest works and the beginnings of his writer's journey.
"In this earliest form of the poem [Tamerlane] which gives its chief title to the little volume is divided into seventeen sections of irregular length, containing a total of 406 lines. Tamerlane" was later remodeled and rewritten, from beginning to end, and in final form, as it appeared in the author's edition of 1845, is divided into twenty-three sections, containing a total of 243 lines. Eleven explanatory prose notes are added, which disappear in all subsequent editions. A critic whose familiar acquaintance with the text of Poe gives weight to his verdict, declares that although 'different in structure, and explaining some things which, in later copies, are left to the imagination, the Tamerlane of 1827 is in many parts equal to the present poem." (from Editor's Preface pp. 8-9) This publication was printed in pamphlet form when Poe was not yet nineteen years old.

Tamerlane (original version 406 lines) by a Bostonian {Edgar Allan Poe] - 3.5 Stars
To — — ("I saw thee on thy bridal day") - 3.5 Stars This is the first line of a poem later titled "Song" The speaker tells of a former love he saw from afar on her wedding day. A blush on her cheek, despite all the happiness around her, displays a hidden shame for having lost the speaker's love.
Dreams - 3 Stars Poem where poet wishes he could always stay in the dreamscape of the young.
Visit of the Dead (later renamed Spirits of the Dead) - 4 Stars
Evening Star - 4 Stars
Imitation - 3.5 Stars
Communion with Nature - was unnamed in this edition later it was titled Stanzas - 3 Stars
"a wilder'd being from my birth" - was also unnamed in this edition later it was titled A Dream - 3 Stars
"the happiest day–the happiest hour" - was also unnamed in this edition later titled The Happiest Day - 3 Stars
The Lake - 3 Stars

[Eternauta · Rating 3 out of 5]

H ελεύθερη απόδοση του Παπατσώνη αναπαράγει την πλαστικότητα αλλά πνίγει μέσα από λεκτικές περικοκλάδες τον ρυθμό και την μελωδία του πρωτότυπου. Ωστόσο η μετάφραση μεταδίδει πειστικά την πυρετώδη αγωνία που ξεχειλίζει απο το πρωτόλειο ποιήμα του Poe.
Η έκδοση αναφερέται στην δεύτερη, συντομότερη, εκδοχή του ποιήματος και αποτελεί ένα τυπογραφικό κόσμημα!

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sought out Tamerlane because the rare copy of the poem was such a key symbol and plot device in The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. The poem is about regret for chasing ambition over savoring one's youth and prioritizing love over fame and power. AJ chose love over ambition, so his story is certainly the opposite of the narrator of Tamerlane. Tamerlane was supposed to give him a secure but joyless life, and it was stolen from him, so instead he got a fulfilling life full of love and people. That's interesting....and of course, the fact that Fikry is a dying man and has no regrets is an interesting contrast to the theme of the poem.

I enjoyed the poem and Poe's other poems; I love his meter and rhyme-scheming (and dark topics).

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, yeah, it's not as great as Poe's later work, but he got this published when he was 18 and wrote "Tamerlane" when he was 17. 17! Wtf were you doing when you were 17? This book sells for over $600k.

[Whitney Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars, but thought I’d round up. Evening Star was really the only poem here I enjoyed. However, you can certainly see the promise in young Edgar’s verse, even if the experience and execution wasn’t quite there with this first publication.

[Pelidelasemana · Rating 3 out of 5]

El primer libro de poemas de Poe. Autopublicado en 50 copias de las que sólo quedan 12. Libro sorprendente para un poeta tan joven (17 años). Centrado en el extenso poema épico 'Tamerlane' y aderezado con pequeñas joyas entre las que destaca el maravilloso 'The Lake': Uno de los poemas más hermosos jamás escritos sobre la epifanía infantil de la soledad.

Libro indispensable para los fanáticos de Poe.

////////////////

NOTAS DE USO PERSONAL

TAMERLANE

Poema en honor de Timur Lenk, un conquistador turco-mongol del siglo XIV autodenominado 'La espada del Islam'. Poe, a pesar de admitir su falta de conocimiento histórico sobre el personaje, lo toma como protagonista de un poema que, lejos de funcionar como recopilación histórica, explora el sentimiento de la pérdida del amor en pos de la gloria militar del guerrero.

Poema bastante convencional que sin embargo tiene de valioso algunos momentos de insolencia contra el "padre" al que le confiesa su historia en su lecho de muerte:

"You call it hope -that fire of fire!
It is but agony of desire:
If I can hope -Oh God! I can- Its fount is holier -more divine-
I would not call thee fool, old man, but such is not a gift of thine"

O estos versos también hermosos y demoledores:

"I was ambitious -have you known
the passion, father? You have not..."

Y este preámbulo para el triste retorno a casa:

"I reach'd my home -my home no more-"


TO – –

Poema olvidable sobre una boda

DREAMS

Poema sobre la superioridad del sueño a la realidad. El tema de los sueños es recurrente a lo largo del libro.

SPIRITS OF THE DEAD

Hermosísimo poema sobre el proceso de soledad que vive el alma dentro de la tumba. Breve pero increíble. Un poema que exuda el estilo del Poe que ahora conocemos. Las estrellas, también recurrentes a lo largo del libro hacen su aparición.

"Be silent in that solitude,
which is not loneliness -for then
the spirits of the dead who stood
in life before thee, are again
in death around thee –and their will
shall overshadow thee: be still."

EVENING STAR

Poema menor que teoriza sobre la superioridad de la estrella de la mañana en comparación a la palidez de la luna.

IMITATION

Divagación menor.

STANZAS

Poema que lo más valioso que tiene es la cita inicial de Lord Byron:

"How often we forget all time, when lone
admiring nature's universal throne;
her woods–her wilds–her mountains–the intense
reply of HERS to our intelligence!"

A DREAM

Poema menor que relaciona la temática de los sueños y las estrellas de nuevo.

THE HAPPIEST DAY, THE HAPPIEST HOUR

Delirio sobre el poder y la gloria perdidos, probablemente un episodio recortado de Tamerlane.

THE LAKE

La joya indiscutible del libro. Uno de los poemas más hermosos jamás escritos sobre la epifanía infantil de la soledad:

"In spring of youth it was my lot
To haunt of the wide world a spot
The which I could not love the less--
So lovely was the loneliness
Of a wild lake, with black rock bound,
And the tall pines that towered around.

But when the Night had thrown her pall
Upon that spot, as upon all,
And the mystic wind went by
Murmuring in melody--
Then--ah then I would awake
To the terror of the lone lake.

Yet that terror was not fright,
But a tremulous delight--
A feeling not the jewelled mine
Could teach or bribe me to define--
Nor Love--although the Love were thine.

Death was in that poisonous wave,
And in its gulf a fitting grave
For him who thence could solace bring
To his lone imagining--
Whose solitary soul could make
An Eden of that dim lake."

[John Yelverton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not one of the best of Edgar Allan Poe's poems, but you can still see the flashes of brilliance shining through. This is worth reading, simply to see his progression from here to his true masterpieces later in life.

[Bruna Gonçalves · Rating 3 out of 5]

for all we live to know is known and all we seek to keep hath flown

[Ryan Farrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

As young Poe’s first published collection, the material within is surprisingly good for the most part. The titular ‘Tamerlane’ is the best of the bunch, with a very engaging narrative about the eponymous Mongol conquerer as he confides his regrets to a priest on his death bed, lamenting his decision to pursue ambition instead of love. The Byronic influence is very apparent throughout this collection, but particularly with the main character of the opening poem, who displays a jaded world weariness in his final moments. The eastern and oriental angle was also something Byron was fond of and that comes across very much in ‘Tamerlane’ of course, with Poe’s gorgeous descriptions of the natural environment in the Himalayan mountains.

Elsewhere we have ‘Song’, which is a brief poem about a man viewing a woman he was once involved with as she attends her wedding to someone else. It's good, but not that impressive, which describes a few other poems in this collection. ‘Dreams’, for example, fits that bill. The speaker proclaims that he wishes his life were a dream rather than cold reality, even if the dream was unpleasant, he could take solace that it was all a creation, but he also talks about how much better his dreams are than what he takes to be “real life”. Again it's good enough, but there's better on offer here. ‘Spirits of the Dead’ (or Visits of the Dead) is shorter than most of the poems here, not by much, but nonetheless it's quite brief and still manages to surpass them in quality. This poem introduces the gothic elements Poe is now most known for, and not only the content but also the style of the poem really assists it to portray the feelings and images it sets out to. ‘Evening Star’ is a poem comparing distant Venus to the cold light of the moon. I quite like this one too, but it's not particularly noteworthy in delivery. ‘Imitation’ comes next, purportedly the imitation alluded to is of Lord Byron. This poem also contains the lines “let none of earth inherit, this vision of my spirit” which have become somewhat iconic, and the poem details the misty recollection of youth as life becomes dark and uncertain in adulthood and reality slips.

‘[Stanzas]’, otherwise untitled, begins with a quote from Byron’s ‘The Island’ imparting the feeling that nature responds and interacts with an observer, even if it's often forgotten by that person. It almost sounds like a more uplifting take on the famous Nietzsche quote on the abyss, which is not too outlandish given the philosopher was a Byron fan himself. Anyway, the actual poem is quite good too and talks about “someone” the narrator knew that the earth supposedly communed with and blessed, and there's a lot of religious overtones to this one, the most obvious connection being parallels with Abraham and Noah, but more than that there's a very distinct focus placed on nature. There’ also allusions to the real source of “spiritual truth” not existing in something hidden, but in something commonplace which will only reveals itself as a “spirit and a token” when nature decides. I don't know, there's many interpretations of this one and it's one of the better poems here despite its untitled nature. ‘A Dream’ deals with themes aforementioned, basically longing for the past and a dissatisfaction with the waking dream of life. It’s alright, nothing special. Similar can be said for ‘The Happiest Day’, though it's a little more entertaining to read, and the speaker says that were his happiest days offered once more, he would not relive them, because they carried the eventual potential of the sorrow he now feels. ‘The Lake’ concludes the collection and goes out in a high note. The poem talks about the speaker finding solace on a lonely lake, surrounded by dark boulders and thick pine forests, thought the real ‘terror’ of the place is revealed at night, which ratchets up the isolation but further endears the spot to the speaker.

All in all this is a solid collection, perhaps I'm overrating it a little on the strength of a few of the better poems here (Tamerlane, Spirits, Stanzas, Lake), but the rest are still quality enough, and in fact the truth is most contain some excellent thoughts and lines across them even if their overall quality doesn't touch the better Poe material. This isn't the best he has to offer, but by any other criteria this is a solid collection and if I could give it a 3.75 that's where I'd land probably.

[Shaun Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

To start this short review, I'd like to admit that I'm nowhere near an expert on poetry, but I like to think that I can at least tell the difference between good and bad poetry and this book has one quite good poem with the rest of them being merely decent to not that great.

The quite good poem is this book's namesake, Tamerlane which is surprisingly well written and has multiple layers of story to it. It tells the story of a mongol conqueror despairing over the loss of his first love and I honestly enjoyed it quite a bit.

The rest of the poems included in the book were short and mostly sets the stage for what Poe would write in the future. This is his first publication when he was 18, so he was an unpolished, rough, gem at the time. This book does include some of his more common themes such as death, love, and sorrow which would appear in his later works.

In the end, I think I'll give this book a 3 out of 5 stars, like many other readers here on Goodreads. Definitely not a mandatory read when it comes to Edgar Allen Poe material but I wanted to start from the beginning of his career and work my way through.

I also read this book as part of a humongous collection of Edgar Allen Poe material from Oakleaf Press which catalogs literally everything Edgar Allen Poe wrote. It's a stellar collection and really well organized, I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Tamerlane”

O! craving heart, for the lost flowers
And sunshine of my summer hours!

There comes a sullenness of heart
To him who still would look upon
The glory of the summer sun.

For all we live to know is known,
And all we seek to keep hath flown—
Let life, then, as the day-flower, fall
With the noon-day beauty—which is all.

How was it that Ambition crept,
Unseen, amid the revels there,
Till growing bold, he laughed and leapt
In the tangles of Love’s very hair?

[Timothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tamerlane
"To — — " ("Song")
Dreams
Visits of the Dead ("Spirits of the Dead")
Evening Star
Imitation (later evolved into "Dream Within a Dream")
"In youth have I known . . ." ("Stanzas")
"A wilder'd being from my birth . . ." ("A Dream")
"The happiest day — the happiest hour . . ." ("The Happiest Day")
The Lake

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry is not my strong suit, so I've no deep insight to give you into my rating. I simply liked bits and pieces and the overall story of some of the pieces, and at other times felt a bit lost and bored. It is interesting to see Poe's start, however, and I can appreciate the budding genius in some of these poems.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

More Poe and this was an early one, and also one of the longer ones.
Again, not one that grabbed me particularly.
Still decent writing though, make no mistake, but this time it didn't impact me the same way others did, and that could be all me!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tamerlane was new to me.

A book of different poems by Poe with Tamerlane and his rise to power is the primary feature. Poe evokes such strong images and feelings in all his writings. This series is a nice addition to add to your list of poems to read.

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Anachronistic formalized whimpering in sing-song.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening

I really enjoy anything by Edgar Allen Poe, and these little poems were a delight. I really need to find more of Poe’s writings.

[AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like I did with HP Lovecraft I've decided to read my way through Poe's entire catalog. This is the beginning. I believe this is poetry he wrote as a late teenager. Nothing really gripped me .

[Guille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tiene futuro el pibe.

[Adam Bourbahh · Rating 4 out of 5]

victoria gracias de nuevo

[Lizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Esta primera recopilación de poemas de Poe, si bien es sencilla y no resulta memorable, me parece interesante de leer para conocer algo más cómo escribía el autor en su juventud.

[Anthony Renteria · Rating 2 out of 5]

4/10

[Ronnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡EDGAR ALLAN POE CASI TENÍA MI EDAD CUANDO PUBLICÓ ESTOS POEMAS Y YO AQUÍ SIN HACER NADA POR MI VIDA!
Edit: Soy dos años mayor que Poe cuando hizo esta obra maestra y sigo sin escribir nada, estudio a los mejores porque soy incompetente.

La primera obra publicada de Poe, un joven y todavía inocente poeta que intentaba dar a conocer su genialidad pero que fue ignorado. Aunque falta la madurez y la dureza que nos muestra Poe en sus siguientes trabajos es realmente agradable y dulce, es como para el momento en el que sientes un vacío y quieres llenarlo con algo que valga la pena tu tiempo, para cuando sientes que no puedes continuar leyendo y necesitas algo ligero pero bueno.

No puedo dejar de describirlo como dulce e inocente porque así es, así se nos refleja al amor y la belleza en estos poemas, no cruel y doloroso como en un futuro lo haría, sino dulce e inalcanzable, irracional como siempre pero menos severo.

Creo que podría decir más pero se me dan bien las palabras cuando algo me gusta tanto porque no sé describir mis sentimientos. Planeo releerlo porque es el primer libro de Poe que logro leer totalmente e inglés (me sigo preparando, algún día voy a ir a las ligas mayores) y por eso no le doy las cinco estrellas, porque estoy segura de si pude captar ciertas cosas de la forma correcta.

[Kamas Kirian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of this poem. And, the eBook was OCR'ed with a bunch of stray characters making it more annoying to read than anything.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Poe really does get sorrow down pat.

[Rao Javed · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was agood book but not all of the poem were great

[Jeanny Linh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always wanted to read Poe! This was really good, I'm definitely going to read more of him.