FAMILIAR CONVERSATION

Disappointment, my old friend,

I had forgot thou wert with me.

Forgive me. I did half pretend,

Deceiving ill my misery,

That thou hadst gone. Forgive me thou.

Thou old true friend, thou'rt with me now!

Despair, my old companion sure,

Thou too - though not forgotten quite -

Yet for a moment I had fewer

Thoughts of thee - somewhat of respite.

Entirely to forget thee were

Impossible. Friend, thou art here!

And thou, old comrade, Solitude,

Bare of affection and of hope,

Thou twin with me - I were quite rude

Were I to omit by thee to stop

And play the game of cares and fears?...

Why come ye to shame me, oh tears?