Alone is wisdom for the erring heart,

That infancy of soul, that stainless hour

When all the chaos of our spirit sleeps

In passionless repose,—how oft it woos

Our feelings back to purity and Heaven!

Alas! that in our solitude we soar

To perfect goodness, but in life descend

To dust again!—our aspirations quenched;

And all that purer moments wisely taught,

Denied, degraded, or forgot!—Thus glide