ALONE—ALONE!

———

BY MRS. I. W. MERCUR.

———

“Her friends had one after one departed, and in her mind continually rang the monotonous words, alone, alone!”

I am alone, oh God! alone—alone!

Yet thousands round me crowd life’s busy mart,

Whose ceaseless hum is as a deathless moan

Forever falling on my weary heart—

I am alone!

I am alone—around me press the gay,

The light of heart, they who have never known

The blight of sorrow, or the sure decay

Of every joy the spirit here has known—

I am alone!

I am alone—yet memory oft doth bring

Back the sweet visions of life’s sunny day,

Of friends unchanged, who in my early spring

With smiles of love illumed my joyous way—

I am alone!

I am alone—alas! stern death has won

Hearts that I cherished, and fond eyes of light;

Kind tones are hushed, and brows I gazed upon

In life’s full glory greet no more my sight—

I am alone!

Alone—alone!—for unto me no more

The living turn with thought or feeling’s flow.

And joy for me I feel on earth is o’er—

I never more shall love or friendship know—

I am alone!

Alone and weary, yet I strive to wear

Ever a look of calm, serene repose,

And smiling seek to hide each galling care

And burning sorrow which my spirit knows—

I am alone!

I am alone—and far, oh! far away

From where my home of happy childhood lies,

From scenes beloved where fountains murmuring play

And smile beneath my own, my native skies—

I am alone!

Alone—alone!—and my crushed heart doth bear

Cold and neglect from those for whom I pour

My full soul forth—whose images I wear

Forever shrined in memory’s sacred store—

I am alone!

I am alone, but in my fevered dreams

Friends throng around me—voices loved I hear.

Light once again upon my pathway beams,

But I awake!—no forms beloved are near—

I am alone!

Alone—alone!—no more the star I see

Of Hope which once illumed my cloudless sky.

And naught is left on this wide earth to me,

Save but to look on Nature’s face and die—

I am alone!