Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to parents who were itinerant actors. His father David Poe Jr. died probably in 1810 and his mother Elizabeth Hopkins Poe in 1811, leaving three children, of whom William died young and Rosalie ultimately lost her mind. Edgar was taken into the home of a Richmond merchant John Allan and brought up partly in England (1815-20), where he attended Manor School at Stoke Newington. Never legally adopted, Poe took Allan's name for his middle name. Poe suffered from bouts of depression and madness, and he attempted suicide in 1848. In September the following year he disappeared for three days after a drink at a birthday party and on his way to visit his new fiancée in Richmond. He turned up in delirious condition in Baltimore gutter and died on October 7, 1849.

Edgar Allan Poe
(1809-1849)

Eldorado

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!"

Edgar Allan Poe

Eldorado

Alegremente ataviado,
Un caballero gallardo,
A pleno sol y en las sombras,
Había largo tiempo viajado,
Cantando una canción,
En busca de Eldorado.

Pero envejeció-
Este caballero tan osado-
Y en su corazón una sombra
Cayó cuando se dio cuenta
Que ningún lugar había hallado
Que se pareciese a Eldorado.

Y, cuando su fortaleza
Lo abandonó finalmente,
Halló una sombra peregrina-
"Sombra", le dijo,
"¿Dónde se encontrará-
Esta tierra de Eldorado?"

"Encima de las Montañas
De la Luna,
Bajando el Valle de la Sombra,
Cabalga, cabalga audazmente,"
Respondió la sombra-
"¡Si vas en busca de Eldorado!"

Edgar Allan Poe

All contents is for educational and informational use only. All poems and recording excerpts remain the right of the original copyright holder, and no infringment is here intended / Todo el contenido es pura y exclusivamente para uso educativo e informativo. Todos poemas y fragmentos de audio continúan permaneciendo al poseedor original de los derechos autorales, no existiendo aquí intención alguna de infringir la ley.