Tap Tap Tapping

( with apologies to Mr. Poe)

As I was sitting, quietly reading,
The embers fast receding,
I took to stand and pace my study floor;
And from beneath the rug burlapping,
There came a ghostly tapping,
Tap tap tap tap tapping,
From my study floor.

And the tapping, I did hear it,
And did Cause me call out:"Spirit!
Will you forsake my torment on this night?
Will you end this tap tap tapping,
And leave me to my napping,
And the dreams of my lost loves in my respite?"

But as my frantic pacing quickened,
My heart grew cold and sickened,
As I listened close to hear if there be more.
And sure enough, beneath me,
Much louder now and quickly,
Came the tap tap tap tap tapping from my study floor.

My legs grew weak and weary,
My complexion pale and dreary,
And I fell into my chair, no strength remaining;
I glanced down to my toes,
As the cold realisation grows,
That I'd left my tap shoes on,
From dancing training.