THE HAPPIEST DAY — THE HAPPIEST HOUR

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 vanished long, alas!
The visions of my youth have been —
 But let them pass.

And, pride, what have I now with thee?
 Another brow may even 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
Even 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.