THE CLOUD
Reading edition
There hovers over me a muddy cloud, Enveloping me in its gloomy shadow, That dims the native sunshine of my heart, That dulls the keen perception of the mind, That stunts the latent powers of the soul, That smothers all the rising flames of hope, That cowes the wings of genius that would soar. I am forever followed by this cloud, I can’t escape, I cannot flee this cloud, This muddy, gloomy, hell-begotten cloud— The dollar sign is traced upon this cloud!