The Baltimore Sun reports that, “a longtime tribute to Edgar Allan Poe may have come to an end with the absence of the ‘Poe Toaster,’ who for more than half-a-century has marked the poet’s birthday by laying roses and a bottle of cognac at his original grave site. This is the first time since January 19, 1949 that the person, whose identity is unknown, failed to arrive, said Jeff Jerome, curator of the Edgar Allan Poe House.”

I admit I was sorry to read that, and I hope that all is well with the Toaster. All kinds of reasons for his/her absence have been offered … including one suggestion from Baltimore’s blogosphere that the Toaster was disgusted with the NFL’s Ravens’ performance against the Colts in the playoffs earlier this month.

Whatever.

I am glad of one thing, though – that, for now at least, we have been spared the media circus that grew around Rudolph Valentino’s grave every August 23, with dueling contenders for the title of gen-yoo-wine “Lady In Black.”

As for me, far from Baltimoreand its literary legacy, I shall crack open that half-bottle of cognac in the cabinet, and offer my own toast to Poe … evermore.

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Jeff McDonald

There's a saying around here, something like, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could!" That's me. I'm a 'dang Yankee from back-east' who settled in the Lone Star State after some extended stays in the eastern U.S., and New Mexico. I worked as an archaeologist for a few years before dusting off my second major in English, and embarking on a 25-year career in journalism. Since then, I've embraced the dark side of the force, and now work in PR for a community college in Midland, Texas.

Latest posts by Jeff McDonald (Posts)

• Added to my e-bookshelf … Winter Gets Hot - April 24, 2019
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• … the day before THE DAY … - April 20, 2019
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• 3 Guys, 3 Generations, 3 Missions - September 18, 2018

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