O, In A World Of Men And Women

O, in a world of men and women, Where all things seemed so strange to me, And speech the common world called human For me was a vain mimicry,

I thought—O, am I one in sorrow? Or is the world more quick to hide Their pain with raiment that they borrow From pleasure in the house of pride?

O joy of mine, O longed-for stranger, How I would greet you if you came: In the world’s joys I’ve been a ranger, In my world sorrow is their name.