But never says “Adieu!”

Whene’er he comes—that dreadful man—

Disguise it as I may,

I know that, like an autumn rain,

He’ll last throughout the day.

In vain I speak of urgent tasks;

In vain I scowl and pout;

A frown is no extinguisher—

It does not put him out!

I mean to take the knocker off,