A Valentine
1846
For her these lines are penned, whose luminous eyes,
Brightly expressive as the twins of Leda,
Shall find her own sweet name that, nestling, lies
Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader.
Search narrowly this rhyme- which holds a treasure
Divine- a talisman- an amulet
That must be worn at heart. Search well the measure;
The words- the letters themselves! Do not forget
The trivialest point, or you may lose your labor
And yet there is in this no Gordian knot
Which one might not undo without a sabre,
If one could merely comprehend the plot.
Enwritten upon this page whereon are peering
Such eager eyes, there lies, I say, perdu,
A well-known name, oft uttered in the hearing
Of poets, by poets; as the name is a poet's, too.
Its letters, although naturally lying-
Like the knight Pinto (Mendez Ferdinando)-
Still form a synonym for truth- Cease trying!
You will not read the riddle though you do the best you can do.
~ Edgar Allan Poe
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