Death-themed poems by Edgar Allan Poe?

I think your first impulse was the right one. The Raven might be "played out" in certain areas, but much of the poem's symbolism, especially as it relates to Poe's life, remains obscure. Why a "pallid bust of Pallas"? What does Pallas (Athena) represent and why was it in the library? Why a Raven? Old English symbolism states, especially Welsh tradition, that the eagle knows the place of death but not the time, whereas the raven knows the time but not the place. Poe wrote the poem starting with the last stanza and worked forward to ensure each previous stanza supported his ending and the stanza following it. These are just a few of the aspects of the Raven that can be discussed, specifically as it relates to his perception of death, guilt, love and loss, as well as human nature and psychology. The pair of poems you suggest, Annabel Lee and the Raven, are both perfect examples that reflect on your topics "and" the poet directly...and I wouldn't suggest you settle for anything less. Remember, it isn't just the story, it's the details and the way the story is told.