And turns life’s sunshine into blackest gloom.
When hearts are rent with unavailing prayer
For life’s lost treasures, Mother, thou art there!
Dark-browed and dreadful, Tenebrarum, thou!
Bringer of unbelief, doubt, and despair,
Mother of suicide, revenge, and gloom—
With frenzied look, and maniac’s awful glare—
When man is hated, and when God denied,
Thou standest, mocking, at the wretch’s side!
But thou, O Goddess, mild Mother of Sighs,