"Ulalume" is a haunting poem by Edgar Allan Poe that delves into themes of grief, loss, and the subconscious mind. Narrated in the first person, the poem takes the reader on a journey through a desolate landscape on a dark October night. The narrator is led by a star, which he later realizes is the planet Venus, the "dread star" that led him to the tomb of his lost love, Ulalume, exactly a year before. The poem culminates in a moment of horrifying realization when the narrator discovers he has been unconsciously drawn back to Ulalume's tomb, a discovery that brings him immense sorrow.
The poem is notable for its intricate rhyme and meter, as well as its gloomy, Gothic atmosphere. "Ulalume" deals with the human psyche's complexity, illustrating how grief and sorrow can become cyclical, leading individuals to places and memories they might prefer to avoid. The work is a powerful exploration of emotional pain, subconscious impulses, and the inescapable nature of loss and remembrance.