Thy soul shall find itself alone —

Alone of all on earth — unknown

The cause — but none are near to pry

Into thine hour of secrecy.

Be silent in that solitude,

Which is not loneliness — for then

The spirits of the dead, who stood

In life before thee, are again

In death around thee, and their will

Shall then o'ershadow thee — be still

For the night, tho' clear, shall frown: [page 28:]

And the stars shall look not down

From their thrones, in the dark heav'n;

With light like Hope to mortals giv'n,

But their red orbs, without beam,

To thy withering heart shall seem

As a burning, and a ferver [[fever]]

Which would cling to thee forever.

But 'twill leave thee, as each star

In the morning light afar

Will fly thee — and vanish:

— But its thought thou can'st not banish.

The breath of God will be still;

And the wish [[mist or wisp]] upon the hill

By that summer breeze unbrok'n

Shall charm thee — as a token,

And a symbol which shall be

Secrecy in thee.