My Heart Laid Bare

For Randy Souther

If any ambitious man have a fancy to revolutionize, at one effort, the universal world of human thought, human opinion, and human sentiment, the opportunity is his own—the road to immortal renown lies straight, open, unencumbered before him. All that he has to do is write and publish a very little book. Its title should be simple—a few plain words—“My Heart Laid Bare.” But this little book must be
true to its title
. No man dare write it. No man
could
write it, even if he dared. The paper would shrivel and blaze at every touch of the fiery pen.

—E
DGAR
A
LLAN
P
OE
, 1848