And their dead tongues' prose into dead ears goes,
And out at as dead an ear!
But on file and floor, and the tables o'er,
And in pigeon-holes well stored,
Are letters many, and papers more—
An ever-growing hoard!
No phantom of business, albeit before
My Lords of a Phantom Board!
So much work to be done, and, alive, but one
To utter five phantoms' will!