Can you tell me what this poem means!??

Question

Uhmm here's the poem.
can you please tell me what it means and summarize it.
pleasseee and thank you.


The Lake 
by Edgar Allan Poe 


In spring of youth it was my lot
To haunt of the wide world a spot
The which I could not love the less-
So lovely was the loneliness
Of a wild lake, with black rock bound,
And the tall pines that towered around.

But when the Night had thrown her pall
Upon that spot, as upon all,
And the mystic wind went by
Murmuring in melody-
Then- ah then I would awake
To the terror of the lone lake.

Yet that terror was not fright,
But a tremulous delight-
A feeling not the jewelled mine
Could teach or bribe me to define-
Nor Love- although the Love were thine.

Death was in that poisonous wave,
And in its gulf a fitting grave
For him who thence could solace bring
To his lone imagining-
Whose solitary soul could make
An Eden of that dim lake.

John W · Accepted Answer

This was my answer before -- and I still think it's a good answer:

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This is a poem where Poe celebrates a place in nature that is both naturally wild and beautiful but ALSO (and more importantly) eerie and frightening.

The first stanza stresses the natural beauty of the place.

The second stanza shifts to a description of how night replaces the beauty of the lake with a feeling of “terror.”

In the third stanza (probably the most important of the poem), Poe describes how he experienced this terror – not just as “fright,” but as “tremulous delight” more precious to him than any riches or even love.

In the final stanza, Poe explains how the wild waves at night constantly threatened Death – and explains that to certain sensitive souls, the thought of Death is a solace, is a comfort (presumably because death will bring an end to the sufferings of life). Thus, for the “solitary soul” – the sensitive soul – the Dark Lake becomes a type of paradise.

    * 2 months ago

Abard2 · Answer

A young introverted boy who finds solace through his own thoughts in the sometimes imposing world's vastness.

Can you tell me what this poem means!??

2 Answers