In the greenest of our valleys
       By good angels tenanted,
     Once a fair and stately palace-
       Radiant palace- reared its head.
     In the monarch Thought's dominion,
       It stood there!
     Never seraph spread a pinion
       Over fabric half so fair!

     Banners yellow, glorious, golden,
       On its roof did float and flow
     (This- all this- was in the olden
       Time long ago),
     And every gentle air that dallied,
       In that sweet day,
     Along the ramparts plumed and pallid,
       A winged odor went away.

     Wanderers in that happy valley,
       Through two luminous windows, saw
     Spirits moving musically,
       To a lute's well-tuned law,
     Round about a throne where, sitting,
       Porphyrogene,
     In state his glory well befitting,
       The ruler of the realm was seen.

     And all with pearl and ruby glowing
       Was the fair palace door,
     Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing,
       And sparkling evermore,
     A troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty
       Was but to sing,
     In voices of surpassing beauty,
       The wit and wisdom of their king.

     But evil things, in robes of sorrow,
       Assailed the monarch's high estate.
     (Ah, let us mourn!- for never morrow
       Shall dawn upon him, desolate!)
     And round about his home the glory
       That blushed and bloomed,
     Is but a dim-remembered story
       Of the old time entombed.

     And travellers, now, withing that valley,
       Through the red-litten windows see
     Vast forms that move fantastically
       To a discordant melod,
     While, like a ghastly rapid river,
       Through the pale door
     A hideous throng rush out forever,
       And laugh- but smile no more.

~ Edgar Allan Poe

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