Alone

From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were⁠—I have not seen
As others saw⁠—I could not bring
My passions from a common spring⁠—
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow⁠—I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone⁠—
And all I loved⁠—I loved alone⁠—
Thou⁠—in my childhood⁠—in the dawn
Of a most stormy life⁠—was drawn
From every depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still⁠—
From the torrent, or the fountain⁠—
From the red cliff of the mountain⁠—
From the sun that round me roll’d
In its autumn tint of gold⁠—
From the lightning in the sky
As it passed me flying by⁠—
From the thunder, and the storm⁠—
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view.