Adaptation of "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

The Raven

          On that dark, fierce night of December, the wind outside was raging, and from the black heavens, lightning bolts were thrown. In my chamber, the flames crackling in the fireplace flickered onto the room, showing its sorry state. The bookcases were filled with ancient texts, which kept my lost and desolate mind occupied. As I was slowly slipping into sleep, a volume of forgotten lore fell into my lap, and a gentle rapping came at my chamber door. "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door".
The memory of that December night was still intact in my mind. I indulged myself in books and texts, trying to forget, but nothing would dull the pain. My sorrow was forever present, and I was drowning in it, always have ever since a certain radiant maiden left this Earth. Lenore, my Lenore. Another tapping came at my door, and at the same moment, a gust of wind rattled the silken purple curtains, chilling me to the bone. The scare filled me with excitement and caused my heart to beat faster. "It is just a visitor, some late visitor seeking entrance to my chamber", I said, trying to calm the erratic beating of my heart.
    Mustering up all the courage I could find, I finally called out "Sir or Madam, I implore your pardon. I was slowly succumbing to my slumber, whilst you came tapping at my chamber door, tapping so gently I scarcely heard you." Turning from the drapes, I approached the door. I slowly reached for the cold, brass knob. Taking for what seemed like ages, my heart was pounding wildly in my chest, and my hands getting moist with sweat. I opened the door, expecting to reveal the intruder. I was greeted with darkness. Stunned, my mind went wild, my thoughts scattered, as I stared into the darkness. Fear took hold of my scrawny body, embedding its icicles into my weak heart. Silently, I whispered, "Lenore". The dark corridor whispered back, "Lenore".
    Returning to my chamber, my thoughts still reeling, I heard another tapping, louder than the last, this time on my window. I went to the window, muttering "It is nothing but the wind. Nothing but the wind." I carefully lifted the hatch, peering outside all the while. Dark clouds engulfed the sky. A storm was raging. Lightning cracked. A rush of wind blew over me, bringing me back to reality. The curtains were tangled now, and I hastily closed the window. Turning around, I stumbled back. Perched on the bust of Pallas above my chamber door, was a raven. With its head held high, he remained still, not a single feather fluttering.
    Amused by its serious disposition, I started conversing with it as I would with a lord or lady. "Now what would your name be? Tell me, what has the Night's Plutonian shore sent you for?" Quoth the raven, "Nevermore". I marveled in surprise that this bird could speak and anticipated in having his company here, but soon realized that he too would, in the end, leave. He would leave, just like my previous friends. I will find myself alone again. Then the bird said "Nevermore".
    Startled by the broken silence, I did not understand. Such a peculiar thing to say. "He must have had some master, stricken with misfortune, and all he could utter was "Nevermore". Yes, yes, that is it." The raven only glared at me, its intense, deep eyes reaching for my very soul, piercing into my bosom's core. I brought up an armchair to my door and perched myself beneath this ebony bird. The wind was howling outside. I mused, mystified by this mysterious, ominous bird. Coming up with various stories, trying to answer the question that has been nagging me. What could this raven mean, in croaking "Nevermore"?
    The air in the room seemed to grow denser, colder. Suddenly, realization dawned on me. "I have been so blind!"  I declared. "God has sent you! He has sent you as a sign that I am to forget Lenore! Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!" To this, the black bird replied "Nevermore". The wind has now thrown open the window through which the raven had entered. The curtains were flung disorderly in the air. Lightning struck outside. Furious, I called out. "Prophet! Bird or devil! Whether the Devil sent you, or the tempest made you wreck here, I ask you. Is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!" Quoth the raven, "Nevermore"
    Clawing the stone floor, gasping in the cold air, I felt its great ebony eyes stare down at me. "Prophet! Bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—tell me. Tell me, will I see my lost maiden again? Within the distant Aidenn, will I hold my lost Lenore once more? Tell this poor soul will he be stripped of all this grief and sorrow he has endured? Will this shattered and wounded heart finally heal?" Quoth the raven, "Nevermore". Enraged by its response, I shrieked. ""Be that word our sign of parting, bird of thing of torment!" The fire crackled behind me, slowly getting weaker and weaker, just as my soul.
    "Go back from whence you came! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my desolation unbroken!" My voice now shook with rage. "Quit the bust above my chamber door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!" Quoth the raven, "Nevermore". With his shining deep eyes, the ebony bird gazed at me silently, never moving, never flitting. As of a demon that has rendered me mad, and now examining its task. Under the weight of the fowl's shadow, my soul, forever trapped, shall be lifted, nevermore!