I am the only being whose doom

I am the only being whose doom

No tongue would ask no eye would mourn

I never caused a thought of gloom

A smile of joy since I was born

In secret pleasure —— secret tears,

This changeful life has slipped away

As friendless after eighteen years

As lone as on my natal day

There have been times I cannot hide

There have been times when this was drear

When my sad soul forgot its pride

And longed for one to love me here

But those were in the early glow

Of feelings that subdued by care

And they have died so long ago

I hardly now believe they were

First melted off the hope of youth

Then fancy's rainbow fast withdrew

And then experience told me truth

In mortal bosoms never grew

'Twas grief enough to think mankind

All hollow servile insincere ——

But worse to trust to my own mind

And find the same corruption there.