Edgar, Dear Edgar

Any true student  
of Edgar Allan Poe
should know  
he was orphaned
when his father
deserted the family
and his mother died
a year later
 
Since Edgar and his wife
never had children
any man claiming
to be a direct decedent
of Poe could be
seen as an imposter
and should certainly
be held to
the highest scrutiny
 
So remarkable a man
was he who
lit a fire so hot
It blazed through
the dark night
singeing the moon
and the trees
creating a solid path
for the mysterious men
in trench coats carrying
flashlights in the
days to come.