Oh what can ail thee governor,

Alone and palely loitering,

Though the caretaker has locked the doors,

And no bells ring?

Oh what can ail thee governor

So dreamy eyed and so alone?

Why walk these echoing corridors

Whence all have flown?

The budget’s set, the bills are met,

No worries keep you late.

No long brown envelope lurks unseen

With OFSTED’s date.

The filing cabinet is full

Of policies all smart and new,

You’re up to date, the rest sleep sound,

So why not you?

“I met a Lady in the hall,

With eyes paint-blue and child-gold hair,

As daytime voices die away

She’s always there.

No fears or furies haunt my dreams,

But this frail spirit has me tied

With threads of finest gossamer

Close to her side.

The children’s laughter is her voice

Their daytime songs her sighs,

My feet would flee - but then I die

Into her eyes.

I only meant to lend a hand,

Spare the odd evening after tea,

Give something back to this old school

That once schooled me.

They tried to warn me long ago

That I might in my turn fall prey

To this addiction (no known cure)

And waste away.

No cure they said, and no escape

For those attuned to hear her call:

‘La belle cole sans merci

Hath thee in thrall’.

And that is why you find me here

Alone and palely loitering,

Though the caretaker is long abed,

And no bells ring.”