Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there nothing hearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams of Spooks, Mahatmas, Esoteric lore; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token. Hist! there _were_ two words soft spoken, those stale words, "Obstructive Bore." Bosh! I murmured, and some echo whispered back, "Obstructive Bore": Merely that, and nothing more. Back into my study turning, with some natural anger burning, Soon again I heard a sound more like miauling than before. "Surely," said I, "surely that is a grimalkin at my lattice. Let me see if it stray cat is, and this mystery explore; Where's that stick? Ah! wait a moment: _I_'ll this mystery explore; It shall worry me no more!" Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a smirk and flutter, In there popped a perky Jackdaw, yapping, miauling as before (Queer mimetic noises made he), for no introduction stayed he, But, with plumage sleek, yet shady, perched above my study door,-- Perched upon a bust of GLADSTONE placed above my study door,-- Perched, and croaked "Obstructive Bore!" Then this mocking bird beguiling my tried temper into smiling By the lank lopsided languor of the countenance it wore. "Though you look storm-tost, unshaven, you," I said, "have found a haven, Daw as roupy as a raven! Was it _you_ yapped at my door? Tell me your confounded name, O bird in beak so like BALFOUR!" Quoth the bird, "Obstructive Bore!" Much I wondered this ungainly fowl to hear speak up so plainly, Though his answer little meaning, little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no sober human being Ever yet was blessed by seeing bird above his study door-- Bird or beast upon the Grand Old bust above his study door, With the name, "Obstructive Bore." But the Jackdaw, sitting lonely on that placid bust, spake only That one word, as though in that his policy he did outpour. Not another sound he uttered, but his feathers proudly fluttered. "Ah!" I mused, "the words he muttered other dolts have mouthed before. Who is he who thinks to scare me with stale cant oft mouthed before?" Quoth the bird, "Obstructive Bore!" Startled at the silence broken by reply so patly spoken, Doubtless, mused I, what it utters is its only verbal store, Learnt from some unlucky master, whom well-merited disaster Followed fast and followed faster, till his speech one burden bore-- Till his dirges of despair one melancholy burden bore, Parrot-like, "Obstructive Bore!"