The Raven (Live)

This is a poem by a great American writer called Edgar Allan Poe
Maybe you were forced to read this in high school, torture
But it's being rewritten by me
Not that he asked me to do it, he's been dead so he couldn't defend himself
This is 'Start Out' featuring Master Ren GuangYi
And this is "The Raven"

Once upon a midnight dreary
As I pondered, weak and weary
Over many acquaint and curious
Volume of forgotten law
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping

As of someone gently rapping
Rapping at my chamber door, 'tis some visitor, I muttered
Tapping at my chamber door
Only this, only this and nothing more

Muttering, I got up weakly
I've always had trouble sleeping
Stumbling upright, my mind racing
Furtive thoughts flowing once more

I, there, hoping for some sunrise
Happiness would be a surprise
Loneliness no longer a prize
Rapping at my chamber door
Seeking out the clever bore
Lost in dreams forever more
Only this and nothing more

Hovering, my pulse was racing
Stale tobacco, my lips tasting scotch sitting upon my basin
Remnants of the night before
Came again

Infernal tapping on the door
In my mind jabbing
Is it in or outside rapping?
Calling out to me once more
The fit and fury of Lenoir
Nameless here forever more

And the silken sad uncertain
Rustling of the purple curtain
Thrilled me, filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before
So that now, oh wind, stood still breathing
Hoping yet to calm my breathing

'Tis some visitor entreating
Entrance at my chamber door
Some lost visitor entreating
Entrance at my chamber door
That it is, and nothing more

Deep into the darkness, peering
Long I stood there
Wondering fearing
Doubting dreaming fantasies
No mortal dared to dream before
But the silence was unbroken
And the stillness gave no token
And the only word there spoken

Was the whispered name, Lenoir
This I thought
And out loud whispered from my lips
The foul name festered
Echoing itself
Merely this, and nothing more

Back into my chamber, turning
Every nerve within me burning
When once again I heard a tapping
Somewhat louder than before, surely, said I
Surely that is something at the iron staircase

Open the door to see what the threat is, open the window, free the shutters
Let's this mystery explore
Oh, bursting heart, be still this once
Let this mystery explore, it is the wind, it's the wind and nothing more

Just one epithet I muttered as inside
I gagged and shuddered
When with manly, flirt and flutter
In there flew a stately raven
Sleek and ravenous as any foe
Not the least obeisance made he
Not a minutes gesture towards me

Of recognition or politeness
But perched above my chamber door
This fowl and salivating visage
Insinuating with its knowledge
Perched above my chamber door
Silent, sat and staring
Nothing more

Askance, askew
The self's sad fancy smiles at you, I swear
At this savage viscous countenance it wears
Though you show here shorn and shaven
I admit myself forlorn and craven

Ghastly grim and ancient raven
Wandering from the opiate shores
Tell me, tell me, tell me what thy lordly name is
That you are not nightmare sewage
Some dire powder drink or inhalation
Framed from flames of downtown law

And the raven sitting lonely
Staring sickly at my male sex only
That one word
As if his soul in that one word
He did out pour, pathetic
Nothing farther than he uttered
Not a feather then he fluttered

'Til finally was I that muttered as I stared
Dully at the floor, look you
Other friends have flown and left me
Flown as each and every hope has flown before
And as you no doubt will before tomorrow

But then I felt the air grow denser
Perfume from some unseen incense and so
Accepting angelic intrusion
When in fact I felt collusion
Before the guise of false memories respite

Respite, respite through the haze of cocaine's glory
I smoke and I smoke the blue vial's glory
To forget
At once
The base Lenore

Prophet, said I, thing of evil Prophets
Still, if bird or devil
By that heaven that bends above us
By that God we both ignore
Tell this soul with sorrow laden
Willful and destructive intent

Tell me how had lapsed a pure heart lady
To the greediest of needs
Sweaty arrogant dickless liar
Who ascribed to nothing higher
Than a jab from prick to a needle
Straight to betrayal and disgrace
The conscience showing not a trace

Be that word our sign of parting
Bird or fiend, I yelled upstarting
Get thee back into the tempest
In the smoke filled bottle's shore
Leave no black plume as a token
Of the slime thy soul hath spoken

Leave my loneliness unbroken
Quit as those have quit before
Take the talon from my heart
And see that I can care no more
Whatever mattered came before
I vanish with the dead Lenoir

But the raven, never flitting
Still is sitting silent sitting
Above a painting, silent painting
Of the forever silenced whore
And his eyes have all the seeming
Of a demon's that is dreaming
And the lamplight over him
Streaming throws his shadow to the floor

I love she who hates me more
I love she who hates me more
And my soul shall not be lifted from that shadow
Nevermore