Poem · Edgar Allan Poe

Eldorado

“Eldorado” by Edgar Allan Poe: full text of the poem (24 lines, 93 words). Public domain.

Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.
But he grew old--
This knight so bold--
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow--
"Shadow," said he,
"Where can it be--
This land of Eldorado?"

"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied,
"If you seek for Eldorado!"

Typesetting this poem in a book

Trim (11 pt)Characters per lineLongest line
5 x 8 in55 charactersFits
5.5 x 8.5 in Digest62 charactersFits
6 x 9 in US Trade67 charactersFits
7 x 10 in Executive81 charactersFits

Poetry should not wrap mid-line; if it must, indent the turnover. See the poetry collection guide.

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