You bid me hold my peace br And dry my fruitless tears, br Forgetting that I bear br A pain beyond my years. br br You say that I should smile br And drive the gloom away; br I would, but sun and smiles br Have left my life's dark day. br br All time seems cold and void, br And naught but tears remain; br Life's music beats for me br A melancholy strain. br br I used at first to hope, br But hope is past and, gone; br And now without a ray br My cheerless life drags on. br br Like to an ash-stained hearth br When all its fires are spent; br Like to an autumn wood br By storm winds rudely shent,-- br br So sadly goes my heart, br Unclothed of hope and peace; br It asks not joy again, br But only seeks release.