ChinaRose

I am the only being whose doom
　 No tongue would ask no eye would mourn
　　I never caused a thought of gloom
　　A smile of joy since I was born
　　
　　In secret pleasure - secret tears
　　This changeful life has slipped away
　　As friendless after eighteen years
　　As lone as on my natal day
　　
　　There have been times I cannot hide
　　There have been times when this was drear
　　When my sad soul forgot its pride
　　And longed for one to love me here
　　
　　But those were in the early glow
　　Of feelings since subdued by care
　　And they have died so long ago
　　I hardly now believe they were
　　
　　First melted off the hope of youth
　　Then Fancy's rainbow fast withdrew
　　And then experience told me truth
　　In mortal bosoms never grew
　　
　　'Twas grief enough to think mankind
　　All hollow servile insincere -
　　But worse to trust to my own mind
　　And find the same corruption there

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