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Oh, Poe....
Published: 1/19/2010 10:44 PM
Last Modified: 1/19/2010 10:44 PM

Edgar Allan Poe -- the mystery remains.

For the past 60 years, a cloaked individual has left a bottle of brandy and a handful of roses on the grave of Edgar Allan Poe, sometime in the early hours of Jan. 19, Poe's birthday.

Except for this year.

It's become a tradition in the Baltimore cemetery where Poe was laid to rest in 1849 for a chosen few people to wait and watch this nocturnal ritual. No one has ever tried to interfere with the "Poe Toaster," as he -- at least, it's been believed to be a "he" -- has been dubbed. No one knows why the tradition started, although some years ago it was noted that a younger person had taken over the task.

But this year -- nothing. Perhaps, since last year was Poe's bicentennial, the person responsible decided that the time was right to bring this unusual yet poetic activity to an end. Or maybe the person is ill. Or maybe the event is becoming too public. Or there could be any number of reasons.

Maybe next year there will appear on Poe's grave another gift of drink and flowers. But whether the tradition ends or continues, it is only appropriate that this bit of Edgar Allan Poe's life and legacy be shrouded in mystery and darkness, and take place in a graveyard.

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Arbythree (3 years ago)

The toast is Nevermore.

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James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.

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