Beware a Nightly Visitor !

An entry for the Raven competition

Once upon a midnight eerie, while I pondered weak and weary,
over volumes of old score books dreary, from the season past and many before,

while I nodded nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping
as if someone a gently rapping, rapping at my front door?
"Tis some late caller" I did mutter, rapping at my front door
Only this and nothing more.

Ah distinctly I remember, the cricket all over as was September
and at my fire-side, the flames cast shadows across the floor
eagerly I wished the morrow, for these books brought only sorrow
Sorrow as no runs did I score, not this season nor none before
each time at my name a zero, zilch, another duck, 

always this and nothing more!

Again the tap, tap tapping at my door, tapping, rapping as before
terror gripped me my nerves all tore,
so now I stood there, my heart increased in beat,
wondering who sought entreat and entrance through my door
was it some late visitor, perhaps this and nothing more?

Presently my soul grew stronger, so hesitating then no longer
"Sir or Madame, truly your forgiveness I implore"!
But the fact is I was napping, when so gently you came rapping
scarcely  so I heard your tapping, tapping, rapping at my front door,
so now I'll open up to you, my door....Darkness there and nothing more !

Deep into this darkness I stood peering, standing, wondering, fearing
doubting dreaming dreams, no mortals dared dream before
and the silence was unbroken and the stillness gave no token
was there out there some ghostly apparition?
As what I heard lent further to my suspicion,
when forlornly I inquired, “Will someday at my name be a score"?
Came back the echo, "Nevermore"!

Back into my room quickly turning, all my soul within me burning
still to hear the tapping, somewhat louder than before

and again although not certain, a faint rustle at my curtain
then the tapping more profane, firmly now, upon my window pane

this mystery I must explore, or could it be the wind and my imagination?
Pray it be this and nothing more!

Open quickly, I flung back the shutter and without fuss or flutter,
in there stepped a stately black duck, from the saintly days of yore,
not the least embarrassed was he, what business could he want with me?
Jumped down upon my settee and then onto the floor,
then standing there and staring, with beady eyes towards me, glaring,
said I unto the fowl, "What is thy name" ? 

Quacked back the duck that word,  "Nevermore"!

Then me thought is he a prophet come to warn me,  it's time to stop it!
So closer towards him I did draw, "Tell me now duck, don't be a bore"!
Even closer reclining, thinking and divining,
"Will a century I ever score"?  Quacked back the duck, "Nevermore"!

Ah, this bird he made me furious, yet still I grew more curious,
was he some tempter sent to tempt me? 

This duck I was beginning to abhor!
Again I engaged it into guessing, towards the brute, vividly expressing,
"Shall a fifty be mine to score"?  Quacked back it again, "Nevermore"!

Crazy yet more crazy I was going but I had to keep on knowing,
"Quaff oh Quaff, tell me this and don't reply, "Nevermore"!
Take thy bill from out my heart's core and thy form out that door,
leave me now for it is late, dare not stop to close the gate!
But wait! Before you go, "Am I destined a Duck to always score"?
“Quack oh Quack replied he, yes you’re spot on there mate"!
Then it vanished into the night, left me lamenting... For now and evermore!!

Reviews

[Sheila Kline]

Marvelous............dreary, very closely following the art of Poe, but with a wonderful twist as I see the bit of humor in this with the introduction of a duck and the "Quack, Quack", and "Quaff oh quaff" to replace the legendary raven of Poe. I think it a bit of a slight of hand and so very clever to craft such a write with the introduction of your lack of mastery at the game of Crickett!!.......well done!!
I don't know if I would be alarmed to meet a duck at the door, or a raven!! Ducks have very big bills.......lol

Good luck with the contest!!

[Rita L. Sev]

Haha! Well, I certainly learned something about cricket! Great poem in Poe's style, but much more fun in theme!

[Tom]

A very belated thank you Rita for you pleasing review

[SyberRose]

Wow...i was going to enter but forget it now haa...no way...this was absolutely fantastic...Rose:)

[Aethereal]

Wow! You must have burnt the midnight oil writing this detailed poem. It's a humorous twist to Poe's masterpiece. That Duck presents a memorable image in my mind.

Quoth quaffed the Drake, "Nevermore!"

[Sami Khalil]

Wow. I felt Edgar Allen Poe was back from the grave in the spirit. A splendid poem...:)