I’m floating in a sea
of sadness and despair
remembering my Annabel Lee
and the moment
she sunk into this deep, deep sea

Salty tears and salty waves
chill my bones
like a cold embrace
because here I float
but there she lies
on heavy sand
while angels cry
– they screamed out with me
as she forever closed her eyes

Now I find myself
left with an aching heart
we both remember
how the world
tore us apart

See the castle over there?
the castle by the sea?
it’s where we dreamt to live
dreamt to be
together and alone in the castle
far up there, by the sea
where I dreamt of holding her forever
holding my beautiful Annabel Lee

And indeed, we did
alone at the sea, we lived
danced and laughed and kissed
but soon we heard the trumpets
and the kinsmen, they arrived
and I, fearful as ever, closed my eyes
as they set foot on our land
still feel the feeling
of Annabel letting go of my hand

When I was scared
she marched into battle
I drew her beauty
while she drew red blood
was sitting in our castle
when she was taken
by the flood

My beautiful
and loving
careful and forgiving
Annabel Lee
wish I could tell you
that I always ever wanted you
to be entirely free

Didn’t want to rob you
not you, my Annabel Lee
wish I could have seen
what I didn’t want to believe:
that you were lonely
together and alone with me
in our stone-brick castle
there, by the sea

Floating now
in this deep, deep sea
I feel closer to her than ever
as salt drowns my breath, I shiver
and cry, cause I just now realized
that she would still be
if I had only freed her of me
as I sink, I confess:
the flood chilled
but I killed Annabel Lee.

Luzie Ada Welker