Here upon a noonday dreary
As I ponder weak and weary
Asking of this Life... Whatever for?
It seems so cold, obscure, and gray
A welcome darkness lights my way
I hear them laugh as if to say
You should be asking Life for nothing more
...Only this and nothing more.
Ah, distinctly I remember
Each and every ghostly ember
As I passed my unforgotten lore
A shadow that I left behind
A spell once cast, would not unbind
A haunting o'er both soul and mind
To this shroud of gloom I thus implore
...Only this and nothing more
But no! My peace is not to be
A tap-tap-tapping comes to me
A tap-tap-tapping there upon my door
Please go your way I think aloud
Your tap-tap-tapping leaves me cowed
I much prefer my silent shroud
It is the light of day that I abhor
...Only this and nothing more
Presently my will grows stronger
Though the tapping taps no longer
Still I rise and walk across the floor
I walk across that vast expanse
As if there ever was a chance
To circumvent my circumstance
Knowing sorrow waits beyond that door
...Only this and nothing more
Listening but still not hearing
Long I stand here wond'ring, fearing
Waiting for that tapping at my door
But no, no tapping comes my way
Yet I can feel the light of day
And I can hear from faraway
A whisper from the depths ...Whatever for?
...Only this and nothing more
Back into the chamber turning
Every fiber stretched and yearning
Working to sweat grief from every pore
This grief though turns again to fear
When at my window I can hear
A tap-tap-tapping more severe
Across another vast expanse of floor
...Only this and nothing more
As I stumble filled with dread
Halfway there I turn my head
Surprised to hear a tapping at my door
Now I stand betwixt, between
How dare this tapping contravene
Its tendrils slither most obscene
This tap-tap-tapping creeping 'cross the floor
...Only this and nothing more
I cry aloud, "Please enter here!"
I cry aloud, "Come calm my fear."
And thus they come through window and through door
Alas, my fear grows strong and true
To see this currish, abject crew
To be this poltroon rendezvous
This Craven chorus breathes...Whatever for?
...Only this and nothing more
And though I fear I also marvel
To see this lot thus masked and larval
Scattered here about my chamber floor
Malicious grins, with lips bruised black
I dare not think to turn my back
My vigilance fends off attack
Must I now stand guard hence forevermore?
...Only this and nothing more
Though the Craven sit here waiting
I am soothed by contemplating
Their overpowering voiceless stoic roar
Yet through malevolence unspoken
Afraid and spent and nearly broken
Their valued nature a foretoken
That once again I'll be as once before
...Only this and nothing more
From whence they came I want to know
So if allowed with them I'll go
Upon their exit through my chamber door
What am I thinking? Look at them
This fancy taken, just a whim
I must remain steadfast and grim
To spurn pusillanimous amour
...Only this and nothing more
As the day grows long and weary
Watchfulness comes somewhat bleary
And so I shrink to cushions on the floor
Soon my mind begins to wander
Opportunities to ponder
Will I choose to use or squander
This Craven nature never used before
...Only this and nothing more
Here I sit engaged in guessing
Is this a curse? Or a blessing?
Do I stand strong? Or do I wash ashore?
This sorry group of shabby men
Have given up; have given in
Each hateful look, each blackened grin
A weak-willed life; a simple-minded spore
...Only this and nothing more
Then, me thinks, the air grows colder
Baring loathing's lambent smolder
Surrounded by despair that I deplore
I cry aloud, "Be gone with you!"
"You wretched clump of residue!"
"I want to find my way anew!"
"Your sad, quiescent rage I will ignore."
...Only this and nothing more
They do not move, they do not budge
They look at me as if to judge
Am I worth the effort of their chore
With quiet tears I ask of them
Are we to live so smugly dim
Can I live purpose past a whim
This Craven chorus breathes ...Whatever For?
...Only this and nothing more
So we sit; an uneasy truce
Although they still work to induce
Companionship to last forevermore
I look into their cold dead eyes
I want to take them by surprise
I cry aloud, "Be Gone! Abscise!"
They sit as if they'll sit forevermore
...Only this and nothing more
Here I sit on cushions napping
When I hear a tap-tap-tapping
The Craven tap-tap-tapping on my floor
I jerk awake as they advance
Crawling across that vast expanse
My watchfulness knocks them askance
Yet still I'm less than what I was before
...Only this and nothing more
Here I sit on cushions napping
When I hear a tap-tap-tapping
The Craven tap-tap-tapping on my floor
I jerk awake as they advance
Creeping across that vast expanse
My watchfulness knocks them askance
Now once again I am as once before
...Only this and nothing more ...Only this and nothing more