TO AN IMPORTUNATE GHOST.

By James Whitcomb Riley

Get gone, thou most uncomfortable ghost!

Thou really dost annoy me with thy thin

Impalpable transparency of grin;

And the vague, shadowy shape of thee almost

Hath vext me beyond boundary and coast

Of my broad patience. Stay thy chattering chin,

And reel the tauntings of thy vain tongue in,

Nor tempt me further with thy vaporish boast

That I am helpless to combat thee! Well,

Have at thee, then! Yet if a doom most dire

Thou wouldst escape, flee whilst thou canst!— Revile

Me not, Miasmic Mist!— Rank Air! retire!

One instant longer an thou haunt'st me, I'll

Inhale thee, O thou wraith despicable!