My dad was a blogger (among many other things that I won't get into now). He believed in the power of words, and I think that’s something we could all start doing. Words seem to have lost much of their integrity with today's culture, thrown around loosely and disingenuously in Facebook posts and comment sections of the internet.
My dad’s passion for writing and the belief in the power of words might’ve been inspired by his favorite Bible verse from the Gospel of Saint John (his favorite Apostle):
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
He had this whole passage committed to memory. During a visit with him back in 2010, I accompanied him to his job at a general store in Panton, Vermont. This was when I first heard his recitation. It goes without further explanation that my dad was a devoted Christian and a man of faith. Before he died, I started going back to church regularly and attempting to revisit my relationship with God in a more serious and practiced way. After his death, my spiritual journey was expedited. My dad taught me a lot of very useful things, chiefly things that I shouldn’t do (this will make sense later if you stick with this blog). His passion was tenacious and truly inspiring. It’s what I miss most about him.
Now, who am I? Why this blog? I have been a devoted Edgar Allan Poe aficionado since I was twelve years old. This interest in Poe is kind of “my thing” or “claim-to-fame.” After visiting every Poe house/museum in the country within the first few years of learning his name, I came to focus on his ties to my own home state of Rhode Island after realizing how intense his time here truly was. The capital city of Providence bore witness to his tempestuous relationship with a local poetess, Sarah Helen Whitman, and much, much more. After creating the website, edgarallanpoeri.com, to share my research, I created A Walking Tour of Poe’s Providence that had a successful debut in 2021. I guide public and private tours annually, allowing me to present my knowledge of Poe and his history in Providence to the public. I also give presentations on this subject at various historical, intellectual, and entertainment venues throughout the state, expanding my reach to those who may not be able to take the walking tour. Through these endeavors, I have been able to resurrect the legacy of Sarah Helen Whitman, who has slid under the radar quite substantially in Poe studies. Highlighting her life and legacy both inside and outside of her connection to Poe has been one of my greatest, albeit inadvertent, achievements. Through recent research, I discovered that Whitman is my sixth cousin six times removed. We share a great grandfather named John Gould VII (1584-1650) from Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England. My dad loved genealogy, and would’ve found this to be so cool! I’m the author of Simon & Schuster’s Edgar Allan Poe: The Master of the Macabre, which is part of a debut series called “Pocket Portraits.” My dad would’ve been over the freakin’ moon if he saw me get published by one of the foremost publishers of the English language, something he aspired to do in his ephemeral writing career.
When I’m not writing, reading, researching, guiding tours, or working my “day job” in Special Education, you might find me exploring my favorite cemeteries. I spend a lot of time in cemeteries because of their quaintness, historical value, and art. I like expressing my creativity through art in many forms. I draw and dabble in sculpting. While I may feature some of my art or any of the aforementioned topics on this blog, I’d like to primarily use this tiny corner of the internet for my faith and life reflections. But inevitably, worlds will collide. Maybe you already noticed that my favorite Bible verse (which is the namesake of this blog) involves ravens, and Poe is most known for his impeccable poem, “The Raven.” There's at least one other Christian meaning to the raven that I'll get into here, at some other time.
While my life may be like watching black paint dry, it's worth noting that the shade of black is so beautiful; like the rich, glossy black of a raven’s plume. It's vibrant with shades of blue, purple, and green, visible only in the natural sunlight. I’m so proud of how well I’ve painted the room, too: no drips, even coats, immaculate lines along the trim, and great coverage. What a rewarding feeling after a job well done! I love this room so much.
Thanks for everything, Dad.
 |
| My dad, Kevin Lionel Leland, finding peace under the shade of a tree with his dogs, Kevin and Moose. |
 |
| Levi Lionel Leland sitting six feet above the remains of Edgar Allan Poe in the Westminster Burial Grounds. Baltimore, Maryland. October 2024. |
