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79
ALONE.
The widowed mother, one by one
Hath seen her children drop away.
A boy was left: now he is gone,
She sits forlorn, that mother gray.
Hath seen her children drop away.
A boy was left: now he is gone,
She sits forlorn, that mother gray.
The captive weeps upon his stone,
Chained to the narrow wintry floor:
Nor voice nor eye to him is known,
Save when the jailer opes his door.
Chained to the narrow wintry floor:
Nor voice nor eye to him is known,
Save when the jailer opes his door.
80
By wayward shipwreck singly thrown
Upon a distant speechless isle,
A sailor-boy so mute has grown
That he at last hath ceased to smile.
Upon a distant speechless isle,
A sailor-boy so mute has grown
That he at last hath ceased to smile.
Think you that these are all alone,
Because bereft of human gaze?
Never was aught but on it shone
Incessant superhuman blaze.
Because bereft of human gaze?
Never was aught but on it shone
Incessant superhuman blaze.
The blindest worm, the proudest throne
Are ever blest with company:
Who were an instant left alone,
That instant would he cease to be.
Are ever blest with company:
Who were an instant left alone,
That instant would he cease to be.
And that first death would shake the stars,
With terror rack creation's face,
That sprung were life's eternal bars,
And God no more was in his place.
With terror rack creation's face,
That sprung were life's eternal bars,
And God no more was in his place.
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