University of Virginia Library


200

IN SOLITUDE.

Have pity thou, who all my heart hast known!
Come back from thy far place and heal my pain!
My long, unshared, uncheered days wax and wane;
The strong suns mock me, I am so alone;
The hurrying winds sweep by, nor heed my moan;
The climbing stars of night, a shining train,
With curious eyes behold me wait in vain,—
And Nature's very self doth me disown.
I did not know how blest I was, God wot,
When thy dear voice made music for my ears,
Fostered my starveling joys and shamed my fears:
Now thou art dumb; and I, by thee forgot,
Live through the empty, pitiless months and years
And think how I was glad, yet knew it not.