The happiest day – the happiest hour

        My sear’d and blighted heart hath known,

The highest hope of pride, and power,

        I feel hath flown.

Of power! said I? Yes! such I ween

        But they have vanish’d long alas!

The visions of my youth have been —

        But let them pass.

And, pride, what have I now with thee?

        Another brow may ev’n inherit

The venom thou hast pour’d on me —

        Be still my spirit.

The happiest day – the happiest hour

        Mine eyes shall see – have ever seen

The brightest glance of pride and power

        I feel – have been:

But were that hope of pride and power

        Now offer’d, with the pain

Ev’n then I felt – that brightest hour

        I would not live again:

For on its wing was dark alloy

        And as it flutter’d – fell

An essence – powerful to destroy

        A soul that knew it well.