I hung “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe above my chamber door, forevermore in 2007. It is my favorite piece of art, even though it isn’t a painting. I love how the words echo through the stanzas, the meter is haunting, and the subject matter is dark.
Ravens were the most interesting part of the Tower of London when I toured Great Britain in 2009. The birds fascinated me not only because they reminded me of the poem, but because of the lore that preceded the poem. Charles II of England believed that if less than 6 Ravens lived at Tower, the monarchy would fall. He made it law that 6 were to remain in captivity, even though during his time, when the Tower was a torture chamber of sorts, ravens hung around of their own accord due to the abundance of food. Learning about this lore in London, which predates Mr. Poe’s poem by over 200 years, gave the poem such deeper meaning.
My most favorite part is that on the opposite side of that same wall is Corinthians 1:13. As I walk into the room, I am reminded of the love within it; when I walk out of the room, I am reminded of what life can be like without it.
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