Phantasmagoria CANTO VII ( Sad Souvenaunce )

6"No need for Bones to hurry so!"

7I sobbed. "In fact, I doubt

8If it was worth his while to go -

9And who is Tibbs, I'd like to know,

10To make such work about?

11"If Tibbs is anything like me,

12It's POSSIBLE," I said,

13"He won't be over-pleased to be

14Dropped in upon at half-past three,

15After he's snug in bed.

16"And if Bones plagues him anyhow -

17Squeaking and all the rest of it,

18As he was doing here just now -

19I prophesy there'll be a row,

20And Tibbs will have the best of it!"

21Then, as my tears could never bring

22The friendly Phantom back,

23It seemed to me the proper thing

24To mix another glass, and sing

25The following Coronach.

26'AND ART THOU GONE, BELOVED GHOST?

27BEST OF FAMILIARS!

28NAY THEN, FAREWELL, MY DUCKLING ROAST,

29FAREWELL, FAREWELL, MY TEA AND TOAST,

30MY MEERSCHAUM AND CIGARS!

31THE HUES OF LIFE ARE DULL AND GRAY,

32THE SWEETS OF LIFE INSIPID,

33WHEN thou, MY CHARMER, ART AWAY -

34OLD BRICK, OR RATHER, LET ME SAY,

35OLD PARALLELEPIPED!'

36Instead of singing Verse the Third,

37I ceased - abruptly, rather:

38But, after such a splendid word

39I felt that it would be absurd

40To try it any farther.

41So with a yawn I went my way

42To seek the welcome downy,

43And slept, and dreamed till break of day

44Of Poltergeist and Fetch and Fay

45And Leprechaun and Brownie!

46For year I've not been visited

47By any kind of Sprite;

48Yet still they echo in my head,

49Those parting words, so kindly said,

50"Old Turnip-top, good-night!"