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Black bird provokes melancholic and depressing associations

I am obsessed with masochistic satisfaction in self-torture

Self-torture

I am asking myself questions to inflict the greatest pain

And I know the answers to the questions in advance:

"Nevermore"

Mysterious eyes of the raven are increasing my depression

Its answers are driving me mad

(spoken)

"And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted - nevermore!"

(Edgar Allan Poe - The Raven, first published in 1845)