I am in the bog of despair, the slough of despond, br A place of which I am not too fond, br As I read Pilgrim's Progress, I see the allegory, br Of my own hearts relation to this grand spiritual story! br br The message in the bottle is the message in my heart br The message you may never read, the message you may never see br Unless the oceans of my soul from many worlds apart, br Some day roll their waves toward you, and your own heart's sea.