Dear Mr. Poe

Today is the 161st anniversary of Poe's death. If you have a chance, pick up Peter Ackroyd's brief biography of him which focuses on his last days, called Poe: A Life Cut Short. A quick, heavily intriguing read.

Here's to you, Mr. Poe, and your writing, which to this day is still right up there among the American literary pantheon. Good job in spite of all the rest.

Illustration (c)2006 Michelle Souliere.