 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.
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