With Sincere Apologies to Edgar Allan Paw

Last night, a midnight dreary, while we pondered sad and teary,
About that bird who forgot his chore
While we nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at our townhouse door.
`'Tis just the wind,' we muttered, `tapping at our townhouse door -
Only this, and nothing more.

'Ah, how sadly we remember, it was in last bleak December
When we entreated him to soar
O’er the country to St. Loulish, to watch our humans acting foolish
O Bird, we did implore
Find those folks we do adore
Send pictures home, and nothing more.

Awakened our woofs grew stronger; hesitating now no longer,
`Sir,' we barked `or Madam, truly your forgiveness we implore;
But the fact is we were napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at our townhouse door,
That we scarce were sure we heard you' - But then we opened wide the door; -
And saw our egret, home once more.

Now this snowy bird beguiling our sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and repentant countenance it wore,
`Though thy honor be yet in doubt,’ we said, `surely thou must be no lout.
Ghastly thin and hungry egret delivered from the Houston shore -
Thanks to Sam you looking for!
Will you promise, Nevermore?'

‘Yes,’ the egret said, ‘I will, I will, just please please untie my bill!
And remove this bizarre cap that has made me sore
I hear you wish to take a flight to Tempe for a football fight
To see who’ll gain the winning score
And stay with pals you’ve sniffed before
I’m game, I’ll go to restore our rapport.’

So yes, the egret, previously flitting, now is sitting, now is sitting
Just inside our townhouse door!
He has promised us to take, if we feed him fishy steak
And forget what has gone before -
The snows, the sleet, the frigid shore -
And keep him with us, forevermore!