In his latest book, UVA English professor Jerome McGann includes Edgar Allan Poe's well-known, eerie poem "The Raven." Poe employs the word "evermore" because loss is an unavoidable part of life, and "nevermore" because we can never hold onto what we have or who we love, according to McGann. Poe was trying to convey that no matter how much we try to protect those we love, they will eventually be taken from us. Ever since its publication in 1845, "The Raven" has inspired many artists and musicians, including Walt Disney. The movie company used it as inspiration for one of their classic cartoons, "Funny Farm," which features characters from throughout Disney history. In this version of the story, a farmer loses his wife and son in a fire and then commits suicide, leaving him alone and heartbroken forever. People have often interpreted "The Raven" differently. Some believe it is about a lonely man looking for love in all the wrong places. While another popular interpretation is that "The Raven" is about a murderer who knows that he will soon be caught because he keeps seeing birds follow him around before he kills them. But perhaps the most common theme surrounding Poe's poem is its impact on readers who have been through tragic events in their lives. Many people have told McGann that reading or listening to "The Raven" helps them get through difficult times.