The Happiest Day, The Happiest Hour, Edgar Allan Poe

"The happiest day - the happiest hour
My sear'd and blighted heart hath known,
The highest hope of pride and power,
I feel hath flown.

Of power! said I? yes! such I ween;
But they have vanish'd long,alas!
The visions of my youth have been -
But let them pass.

And,pride, what have I now with thee?
Another brow may have inherit
The venom thou hast pour'd on me
Be still,my spirit!

The happiest day - the happiest hour
Mine eyes shall see - have ever seen,
The brightest glance of pride and power,
I feel - have been:

But were that hope of pride and power
Now offer'd with the pain
Even then I felt-that brightest hour
I would not live again:

For on its wings was dark alloy,
And, as it flutter'd-fell
An essence - power to destroy
A soul that knew it well."