The Many Poems of Larry Bernstein

The Mulder (in the style of The Raven)

Once upon a mid-day lecture, I made visions; as the director, and just as I had found conjecture-
Over many idea and saying I came to my thought-form,
While I leaned, barely listening, suddenly there came a clinging-
As of Keys, slowly clanging, walking towards my desk-
"Tis a classmate," I whispered, "walking towards my desk-
Only a classmate, and now I may rest."

Ah, how clearly I recall, no more noise escapes the hall,
The steps they stopped, they suddenly ceded, students silently sat and heeded,
The great and evil Mulder at the end of classroom floor.
Eagerly I wished the bell, for the Mulder indeed insured hell,
I sat sleepily slouched at my desk, I sat and I implored, I sat and how I pondered,
The walking on the classroom floor.

Remain I did n classroom somber, my eyes winced as the clinging wanderedm
Wadered toward my desk,
Accross the classroom floor.
I sniffed the smell of great soft suave, my throat it itched to begin a cough,
The smell was strong, strong as a trough,
Across the classroom floor.

By the time I had developed theory, my eyes they closed weak and weary,
As the steps continued steering,
Steering around classroom floor.

I began a whimper, and then my voice grew tall, "O fair maiden who walks to stall,
To stall my sleep in falls dreary arms, is it but the Mulder who has come to call?"

Response I had not, stepping had but stopped, my head lay in coats warmth,
But a tap on my neck, but a finger on my bone, like the prod of Poseidon-
Lingered forevermore.
Slowly spin my head I did, briefly glancing across classroom floor, preparing my mind for what I may expose,
I saw not Mulder nor teacher short, I saw not staff before the windows rows,
'Twas a classmate in my vision, a hand raised strong to wipe her nose:
"For what is it I am awakened; I see no trouble though I might've mistakened,
please inform me of the trial, that sent you across classroom floor?"

Quoth the riley; "work once more."

Such a simple phrase, still yet it lingered, my head did lift from above my fingers, soft spoken yet the words come as a roar;
"Why is it? The bells naught chiming, the Mulder at head continues whining, that you may interrupt my lying?"

Quoth the Riley; "work once more."

My mind indeed it did enter, the phrase took hold with power and center, as she gazed at me with eyes of ember,
Standing on classroom floor.
I stared, I looked, I searched for soul, I found naught but the room grew cold,

As she stood on classroom floor.

"Work once more!" my mind did ponder, as I viewed my coat- of my heads mold, "of whom is it you were told!
of great Mulder, of teacher evil? Or of the many here in this steeple?"
Quoth the Riley; "work once more."

Under her behest I gripped my pencil, under fear of what may be otherwise in store,
"Such a thing- how do you speak? My arms- my neck- they do grow weak,
As you interrupt my beauty sleep-
Upon this classroom floor."

Quoth the Riley-
"Work once more."
Steps continued, questions evaded, she pulled her chair with mighty sinews, although my mind she had invaded,
From upon this classroom floor.
With heavysteps and mind of death, woman of hellish trials and tests, as if to clean Rileys mess-
Slowly stepped, stepped across classroom floor;
'Twas the Mulder! With heart of stone, with will of strength, and hand of bone, she spoke unto me with voice of foam:
"Head up! My classroom you taint!"
I quickly moaned, "there is trouble naught, I've been but quaint!"
Quoth the Riley; "work once more."

The gang of thugs was now upon me, I hadn't my own air to breath, I prayed at least my peers had saw me-
Saw me across classroom floor.
"I see your coat, with your heads own stencil, though you are not using a pencil,"
Spoke the mulder furthermore,
"Are you crazy, perhaps you're mental?"
She stood on classrom floor,

"Nothing is done, naught is started, you do comprehend I am lion hearted,
As I lecture, lecture on classroom floor,"
Without a warning, without a word, she slid away as if mourning, my heart she hadn't heard,
Beating, though the pulse was stirred, as the eyes gazed upon me;
From under classroom floor.
She walked to desk, of grades andtrinkets, the once great maid of math and more
I declared to Riley, indeed I pleaded,
"Now the Mulder hath receded, may I lay my head and remain unbeaten, and you too may step across classroom floor?"
Quoth the Riley; "nevermore."