The genius writer died under somewhat mysterious circumstances at an early age. Disease? Drunk? Drugged? Epilepsy? Diabetes? Syphilis? Rabies? Cholera?
Theories abound.
Luckily for history, and of interest to us “painters with light”, his portrait was made just a month or so prior to his death by the famous Civil War photographer, Mathew B. Brady. (See the April 30, 2014 “Photographer Spotlight”.)
Eldorado
By Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.
But he grew old–
This knight so bold–
And o’er his heart a shadow–
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.
And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow–
‘Shadow,’ said he,
‘Where can it be–
This land of Eldorado?’
‘Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,’
The shade replied,–
‘If you seek for Eldorado!’
Recent images from Eldorado Springs Canyon…
