by Craig Alan Waliczek (Author)
The subject of the narrative within this book takes its inspiration boldly from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven," first published in January 29, 1845. It is not to emblazon or sensationalize the work of an iconic American author. It is rather to introduce and embody the full nature of the poet's work and also the purpose for the existence of the work itself. For CAW himself, the craft and encompassing narrative of this lone and sullen poet's work is one of bereavement. Its theme, likewise, is one of bereavement. In fact, it's a bereavement that persists through the whole mournful fabric of the work. It offers no comfort to its readers, neither reprieve nor the kind boon of rest. Each poem, although chronologically separate, weaves together and, as such, seeks to synchronize mournfully in order to certainly and succinctly deliver a final confirmation of despair. But returning briefly to the use of the raven, the raven does not simply serve as the conveyor through which the author's grief can be forcefully impressed on the minds of readers. It also seeks to symbolize the author himself. However, it is not the author upon which the theme of this book incumbently rests. But rather, instead, it rests upon the representation of the Raven itself. These Dirges I Sing gives voice to the dirges of his hope or perhaps to their hope alike. Both the raven and/or the narrator are interchangeable and serve to ultimately give further representation to the hope or, in this case, loss of hope of the author himself.