posted
Several years back, shortly after I joined Legion World, there was a wonderful thread started by the poster, STU, which asked posters to reimagine classic works of literature as rewritten with a Legion World twist.
One of the pieces I contributed, and have always been very pleased with, was a beat for beat parody of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven", recast as a tribute to the former poster, Greybird.
At first I was afraid to post it (still being a newbie at the time, and not wanting to unintentionally hurt anyone's feelings) but, after asking the board owners, I was told to go ahead.
A couple weeks after posting it, I got a private e-mail from Grey who had seen and very much enjoyed it (referring to it as my "Poe"-m), but who had asked if I would rewrite a few of the lines that he felt didn't reflect him as accurately as he would have liked. I told him I would, but... as with so many promises... I unfortunately never got around to doing it.
I haven't thought about that in a long time, but last night, after reading about Grey's passing, I suddenly felt regret that I had never made good on what was really such a small request. Here, then, finally, is the revised version which, given the unfortunate circumstances, takes on an added poignacy for me.
I hope he would have liked it.
The Greybird by Exnihil Allen Poe
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I posted, eyes a-bleary, Citing forgotten trivia culled from Legion Archives - Volume Four, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a flapping, As of some one loudly fapping, fapping by my office door. ' 'Tis some poster,' I muttered, 'fapping by my office door - Only Lardy, nothing more.'
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak September, And each long-time Legion World member posted daily at SHAKES Bar. Eagerly I read the past threads; - scanning all the bygone mastheads Noting very aged "last reads" - centering around Dawnstar - For the winged Legionnaire whom Paul Levitz named Dawnstar - Rarely named here anymore.
And the growing wind now outside, as if by that winged Star-Guide Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic thoughts I'd never thought before; So that now, to still the racing of my mind, I said, now pacing 'Nihil, you must be spacing, just go to the office door - Some late poster just wants entrance, outside your office door; - This it is, and nothing more,'
Presently it grew annoying; honestly, a wee bit cloying, 'STU,' said I, 'or Cramer, you know your posts I never would ignore; But the fact is I was nappin', like a post-boot Nura Schappin, And so loudly you came flappin', flappin' outside my office door, Rest assured that I have heard you' - here I opened wide the door; - Darkness there, and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness squinting, inky as Flexographic printing, Darker than e'en the depths where swims Shark Lad, and that's bizarre, But the silence there was total, and you'll find this anecdotal, But not a word would show 'til I heard the whispered word, 'Dawnstar!' This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, 'Dawnstar!' Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the office running, message boards I would be shunning, Soon again I heard a flapping somewhat louder than before. 'Surely,' said I, 'surely this is something just outside my windows; Let me see then, if Quis is there and my sanity restore - Let my heart be still a moment and my sanity restore; - 'Tis just Quis and nothing more!'
But here I came a cropper, for t'was not Quislet, nor e'en Rockhopper, Instead stepped in a Greybird from the MB days of yore. An extraordinary being; such a thing I'd not forseen; With manner quite avian, he perched beside my office door - Perched upon a maquette of Dawnstar just beside my office door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this strange Greybird relaxing my patience he had thus been taxing, By the grave and firm obsession to the Legionnaire he adored, 'Though ye be an eccentric fellow, thou're tame as the Kid that's Yellow, Now give that old Starhaven bellow known so famously on the board - Tell me what thy new screenname is on the Nightcrawler's Legion board!' Quoth the Greybird, 'Nevermore.'
Much I marvelled now to hear this from a Greybird so austere, Not Monkey-Eater nor Sketch Lad dare draw the confusion that I bore; For you cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was jarred by seeing a Greybird by his office door - Bird or man upon the sculptured bust beside his office door, With such screenname as 'Nevermore.'
But the Greybird, <grinning ruefully>, spoke only, I say truthfully, That one word, as if his will in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he posted - on sites free or private hosted - 'Til I presciently boasted, 'Other posters have flown before - On the morrow you will post again, as many others have before.' Said Greybird, then, 'Nevermore.'
Startled at the resoluteness of this bird I ceased my cuteness And said, 'What of Vee? Or He Who Wanders? They've posted more. Everyone takes posting breaks, you should take just how long it takes you Until this melancholy shakes you, 'til you reestablish rapport - 'Til again you post with wit, elan, and find once more rapport And have none of "Nevermore."'
But the Greybird, ever sad'ning, drove my patient mood to mad'ning, Straight I wheeled my office chair in front of bird and bust and door; Then, upon my Ikea purchase, I betook myself to search his Face for meaning, this being who perches 'pon the maquette by my door - What did this usually far from terse or tacit Greybird by my door Mean in croaking 'Nevermore.'?
I must admit, the bird did throw me, for I am no Lash or Cobie Nor Eryk Davis Ester with post counts in the thousand score; But with my line of query, tho the bird's extraordinary, I would dodge and thrust and parry 'til we got down to the core, Until the fruit of knowledge was consumed right to the core. I must know. 'Nevermore.'!
As when torched flame touches solder, methought, the air grew hotter, Like Gigantic Robotic Lesbian off in search of babes galore. 'Bird,' I cried, 'what board hath lent thee - which foul moderator sent thee Respite - respite, repent thee from thy postings of Dawnstar! Enough', said I, 'let's post of other things and forget Dawnstar!' Quoth the Greybird, 'Nevermore.'
'Greybird!' said I, 'you are a mystery! - you know your Legion history! - As with Chaim Mattis Keller you can cite issue, page, panel, and more -, Yet you come here something seeking, of what it be you are not speaking - To be honest, you are freaking me out, so I must now implore - Is there - more to this than Dawnstar? - tell me - tell me, I implore!' Quoth the Greybird, 'Nevermore.'
'Greybird!' said I, 'this fixation! - this character of your admiration, Tho beauteous, true, I fear she may your reputation permanently scar - Tell this soul with chagrin laden, my forbearance quickly fadin', That you'll drop this winged maiden, and post of other than Dawnstar - Post of other than the Legionnaire whom Paul Levitz named Dawnstar!' Quoth the Greybird, 'Nevermore.'
'Be that word our sign of parting then, fair Greybird!' I shrieked upstarting - 'Get thee back up to Starhaven or where-ever such as you shall soar! I'm sure no harm you've meant me, but I must now post with Caliente Or that Shakespeare fellow, Kent, he never haunts about my door! Take thy Dawnstar postings with thee, take thy form from off my door!' Quoth the Greybird, 'Nevermore.'
So the Greybird, never shirking, still may be lurking, always lurking On the sculpted bust of Dawnstar just beside my office door; With his eyes with all the seeming of the winged dream he's dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throwing plumed shadows on the floor; But the thoughts from out that shadow that lie flutt'ring on the floor Shall be posted - nevermore.
-------------------- See Here for the latest update on the 2013 Chicago Gathering (now including tentative attendance list)
Registered: Feb 2008
| IP: Logged |
Hyperpath: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic | Subscribe To Topic
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
