The Happiest Day, The Happiest Hour

- Edgar Allan Poe -

The happiest day- the happiest hour
My sear'd and blighted heart hath known,
The highest hope of pride and power,I feel hath flown.

Of power! said I? yes! such I ween;But they have vanish'd long, alas!
The visions of my youth have been-But let them pass.
And, pride, what have I now with thee?
Another brow may even inherit
The venom thou hast pour'd on me
Be still, my spirit!

The happiest day- the happiest hour
Mine eyes shall see- have ever seen,
The brightest glance of pride and power,
I feel- have been:But were that hope of pride and power
Now offer'd with the pain
Even then I felt- that brightest hourI would not live again:For on its wing was dark alloy,
And, as it flutter'd- fellAn essence- powerful to destroy
A soul that knew it well.