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DESPONDENCY

Racked by care and pain and anguish,
In what utter woe I languish!
Fruitless all the seed I've sown,
Every project overthrown,
Sport of ever-adverse fate,
Helpless, hopeless, desolate!
Wherefore do I linger here,
Naught to hope for, all to fear?
Disarmed, defeated, comfort gone,
Why await another dawn?

Courage then and end thy woe. . . .
Cease, my soul, to murmur so:
Patience, fortitude, endurance,
In the end shall bring assurance
Of a blest surcease from pain,
Hope its empire shall regain:
Victorious over pain and strife
I shall joy again in life,
Or at worst time's tireless flight
Soon shall sink my noon in night.

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