"The Happiest Day" Published 1827

"The Happiest Day" (1827)

by Edgar Allan Poe

The happiest day—the happiest hour,
My sear'd and blighted heart has known,
The brightest glance of pride and power

I feel hath flown —

Of power, said I? Yes, such I ween —
But it has vanish'd—long alas!
The visions of my youth have been —

But let them pass. —

And pride! what have I now with thee?
Another brow may e'en inherit
The venom thou hast pour'd on me:

Be still my spirit.

The smile of love—soft friendship's charm —
Bright hope itself has fled at last,
'T will ne'er again my bosom warm—

'Tis ever past.

The happiest day,—the happiest hour,
Mine eyes shall see,—have ever seen, —
The brightest glance of pride and power,

I feel has been.

W. H. P.

The Happiest Day (1827)

"The Happiest Day" or "The Happiest Day, the Happiest Hour" is a six quatrain poem . It was first published as part of in Poe's first collection Tamerlane and Other Poems. Poe may have written it while serving in the army. The poem discusses a self-pitying loss of youth, though it was written when Poe was about 19.

A nearly identical poem called "Original" written by Poe's brother William Henry Leonard Poe was first published in the September 15, 1827 issue of the North American. It is believed Poe wrote the poem and sent it to his brother, who then sent it to the magazine. T. O Mabbott felt that the rather tepid value of this slightly edited version of the poem suggests that they were made by William Henry, though perhaps with Edgar's approval.