Like one who, doomed o'er distant seas

  His weary path to measure,

When home at length, with favoring breeze,

  He brings the far-sought treasure;

His ship, in sight of shore, goes down,

  That shore to which he hasted;

And all the wealth he thought his own

  Is o'er the waters wasted!

Like him, this heart, thro' many a track

  Of toil and sorrow straying,

One hope alone brought fondly back,

  Its toil and grief repaying.

Like him, alas, I see that ray

  Of hope before me perish,

And one dark minute sweep away

  What years were given to cherish.