Alone by Edgar Allan Poe, read by Tom o' Bedlam

"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we are still alive"❤️‍🔥

I memorized this poem in 8th grade. I recited it for the class. At 69 years old, I must say, it was a premonition of my old age.

"I could not awaken my heart to joy at the same tone". This part hits me hard 🥲

"We suffer more in imagination than in reality" -Seneca

What I personally really appreciate about this poem is not insomuch its feeling of loneliness, but its enjoyment of nature and little things. What a sensitive soul Poe was😀

As someone who’s spent the majority of my life alone, this really hits home. Made me cry, both a mixture of sorrow and joy.

"I could not awaken my heart to joy at the same tone. And all I lov'd, I lov'd alone." So harrowing, yet so relatable.

As someone who has never fit in and surely never felt understood, I find peace in the garden surrounded by nature but always alone.

This was actually my first time seeing/hearing this poem. I felt a strange solace in it. A quiet comfort even, as the words resonated in my soul. Definitely saving this for whenever I need it.

Yes this poem has a sad tone. But for me it is also hopeful, it makes me feel like I am enough, I can be happy with or without someone by my side. I am no longer afraid of being alone nor do I regard having a relationship as the ultimate goal in life. Seeing the beauty and the ugliness of life is solely dependent on me.

“ I spent too much time inside my head, and I went insane” One of my favorite Poe quotes. If you have not read the short story by Poe titled “Hop Frog” I would highly recommend it.

It really hits much harder when you learn just how alone Poe was

Art is so vital to humanity.

I've started to be okay with alone. I suppose from the beginning we were always alone. For those of you who are alone, remember that there are some of us who are too. And in our withdrawal, we can live and be strong, stronger and colder. Not lonelier. Just able to bare the cold that others don't. Whether the cold took the form from our hearts opening up and binded our joy to a single thing. Regardless. Let it be a mystery, and let's live in the chaos all in the hopes to see the beautiful clear sky in the end.

The reader has the perfect voice for this.

Sometimes when you are alone for so long you end up feeling comfortable. So comfortable that its hard to leave.

I love this poem so much, it hits close to home for me. The narrator is Tom O'bedlam and he did an amazing job ❤

I discovered Poe at 12. At 62 I'm still enraptured by his unique genuine nature and his broken heart. RIP. No one yet has come close to being you.

What I love about this poem is how he reacts to the world around him, he's a sad yet intelligent individual. He sees his differences from other people and realizes how his joys won't be the same as other's. He sees his life as a melancholic journey walked by only himself and his thoughts, yet he still takes note of every detail around him. He may view the path he walked to be depressing, but he still took the time to note down each passing moment, still noticed every object, every idea. He may be a sad fellow, yet he's still a compassionate man as well, he just needed more folks who could walk this winding road with him, to examine everything with him, to be alone with him.

Sums up my life pretty well. I'd have it read at my funeral, if I had anyone in my life who would read it.