Once upon a Stardate Dreary while I pondered weak and weary,
Over "A Tale of Two Cities" some forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping suddenly there came a tapping
As of someone shyly rapping, rapping at my quarters' door
Only this and nothing more
Ah vividly I remember it was in the radiation chamber
When the ship was saved and my soul was lost
Eagerly I wished for tomorrow
In hopes of release from my present sorrow, sorrow for my First Officer
My loyal Vulcan Officer,
Mr. Spock who is no more
And the beeping of my communicator
Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before
So that now to still my beating heart, I stood repeating,
"I must see Mr. Scott about my quarters' door
But now I'll see the visitor at my broken quarters' dorr"
This I will do and nothing more
Presently my soul grew stronger, hesitating then no longer,
"Ensign," said I, "or Yeoman, truly your forgiveness I implore
But the fact is I was napping and not at all used to gentle rapping
You who came gently tapping; tapping at my quarters' door
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door
Darkness there & nothing more
Deep into the corridor peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
doubting, dreaming dreams no life form ever dared to dream before
but the silence was unbroken and the stillness gave no token
and so the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Spock"
This I whispered and an echo murmured back the word, "Spock"
Merely this and without shock
Then I turned back to my quarters
to find a creature friend of yore.
A furry troublesome tribble
Not making a sound was perched on the desk opposite my door
Perched upon Dickens's print- opposite my quarters' door
Perched and sat and nothing more
Then this long-lost thought-to-be-destroyed-by-Klingons friend
Beguiled me by the neutral and quiet countenance it wore
"Although I have no idea how you got here," I said
"Soft and furry old tribble from the spaceport shore
tell me what your name is on the quadrant's spaceport shore!"
Quoth the tribble, "Nevermore"
I thought I must be delusional
to be hearing a tribble for tribbles coo and eat, they do not speak
But yet here he was opposite my quarters' door
he quietly sat opposite my quarters' door
Saying only, "Nevermore"
But the Tribble sitting on my desk spoke only
that one word as if his soul in that one word he did outpour
Nothing further then he uttered- not a coo and then he shuddered-
Till I scarcely more than muttered,
"Other tribbles have come before
On the morrow there'll be ten thousand more"
Quoth the tribble, "Nevermore"
I grew mad at that tribble
All he ever says is Nevermore! Oh the shock!
"Tell this soul with sorrow laden, if within the distant Sha Ka Ree
It shall clasp a half Vulcan whom the angels name Spock"
Quoth the tribble, "Nevermore"
Outrage at the tribble's audacity!
How dare he speak of Spock who I adore?
I angrily stared at the tribble as I said,
"Leave my loneliness unbroken- quit the desk opposite my quarters' door!
Take your ball of fur from out my heart
And take your form from out this door!"
Quoth the tribble, "Nevermore"
And in that moment I awoke
Feeling lonelier without that tribble opposite my door
It was all a dream
but not the death of my Spock who is no more
He who has been and always shall be my friend forevermore
but he's gone & my soul shall be lifted- Nevermore!
