5. ANNABEL LEE
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Annabel Lee" was written early in 1849, and is evidently an expressionof the poet's undying love for his deceased bride although at least oneof his lady admirers deemed it a response to her admiration. Poe sent acopy of the ballad to the 'Union Magazine', in which publication itappeared in January 1850, three months after the author's death. Whilstsuffering from "hope deferred" as to its fate, Poe presented a copy of"Annabel Lee" to the editor of the 'Southern Literary Messenger', whopublished it in the November number of his periodical, a month afterPoe's death. In the meantime the poet's own copy, left among his papers,passed into the hands of the person engaged to edit his works, and hequoted the poem in an obituary of Poe in the New York 'Tribune', beforeany one else had an opportunity of publishing it. * * * * *
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