On this day in 1849 we lost a poet, author and visionary.  His works paved the way for modern horror, science fiction, and detective drama as we know them today.  His life was riddled with pain and loss but he still brought inspiration to others through his writings.  He was one of the first American authors to try to make a living solely through his writing which also added to his difficulties.  But he firmly held to his unwavering values until the end.

His poetry and stories have brought me many hours of joy, beauty, imagination, and chills.  Not to mention creating source material propagating to other genres of art - such as film and tv.

Those of a like mind raise a toast today to Edgar Allan Poe.  May he find in death the peace he was so denied in life.  And when I have a hard day I try to remember that he was only paid nine dollars for one of the most beautiful tragic elegies ever written - "The Raven."
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A few of his famous quotes:

“From childhood's hour I have not been. As others were, I have not seen. As others saw, I could not awaken. My heart to joy at the same tone. And all I loved, I loved alone.”  

"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity."  

“All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”  

"Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.”  

“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.”  

“Men have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence– whether much that is glorious– whether all that is profound– does not spring from disease of thought– from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect.”  

"But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee."
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And I'll leave you with one last quote he penned with brilliant forethought of the TER folks...

“The best things in life make you sweaty.”  
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Cheers, good sir.  May you rest in peace.