Friday 5 January 2007

A Valentine

For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes,
ssBrightly expressive as the twins of Leda,
Shall find her own sweet name, that nestling lies
ssUpon the page, enwrapped from every reader.
Search narrowly the lines!- they hold a treasure
ssDivine- a talisman- an amulet
That must be worn at heart. Search well the measure-
ssThe words- the syllables! Do not forget
The trivialest point, or you may lose
your labor
ssAnd yet there is in this no Gordian knot
Which one might not undo without a sabre,
ssIf one could merely comprehend the plot.
Enwritten upon the leaf where now are peering
ssEyes scintillating soul, there lie perdus
Three eloquent words oft uttered in the hearing
ssOf poets, by poets- as the name is a poet's, too,
Its letters, although naturally lying
ssLike the knight Pinto- Mendez Ferdinando-
Still form a synonym for Truth- Cease trying!
ssYou will not read the riddle, though you do the best you can do.

Edgar Allan Poe

___________________________________________________

A simple ditty it contrives to be
But deciphering is far from easy,
So as to aid you in your endeavour
I offer these clues, please read them over:

If one is one, then two is two,
This follows on, until you’re through;
To discover what it entails,
Scan through the poem’s finest details.
From line to line you should proceed
Up till the end, where it shall read
The name of the poet’s love and friend,
A poet herself; and hence the end.

Once you are through with this Sphinx’s riddle
Fry yourself an egg upon the griddle.
Congratulations, for you have survived
And its arcane answer you have derived,
But to enjoy the ultimate pleasure
Reread the poem in peace and leisure
And you shall find joy and satisfaction
In the wittiness of its creation.


Anon.

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