University of Virginia Library

LOVE OF SOLITUDE

I love the raving winds, the murky gloom
And I love the sea
When ocean billows burst in frothy hum
And where they silent be

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I love the rough and smooth of nature's voice
The quiet, and the rude
For Nature never had unpleasant voice
But sweet as Solitude
I love the tumult in the forest trees
And wood winds to hear
In nature's soul of quiet sympathies
There—ther's nought to fear
Nothing creating pain or harm
And no noises rude
The loud tongued thunder is a lovely charm
A companion in solitude—
The lightenings through the pathless shades
The hermit's thoughts may scare
He'll think upon those happy glades
Where love he used to share
Then lay him on his couch of leaves
After his evening prayer
Soon silence round his vision weaves
A host of pleasures there—