“To Cowper”, p. 1

   To Cowper

Sweet are thy strains Celestial Bard
And oft in early childhood’s years
I’ve read them o’er and o’er again
With swelling heart and gushing tears floods of silent tears

The language of my inmost heart
I seemed to traced in every line
My sins my sorrows hopes and fears
Where painted [or printed] Were there and only mine

All for myself the sigh would swell
The tears of silent anguish start
I little knew what wilder wo
Had filled the [sacred] poet’s heart

I did not know the nights of gloom
The days of deep anxiety sunless misery;
The long long years of horrid dread dark despair
And dark despair that That crushed and tortured thee

Text as published in Poems (1846)

    TO COWPER.

Sweet are thy strains, celestial Bard;
   And oft, in childhood’s years,
I’ve read them o’er and o’er again,
   With floods of silent tears.

The language of my inmost heart,
   I traced in every line;
My sins, my sorrows, hopes, and fears,
   Were there—and only mine.

All for myself the sigh would swell,
   The tear of auguish start;
I little knew what wilder woe
   Had filled the Poet’s heart.

I did not know the nights of gloom,
   The days of misery;
The long, long years of dark despair,
   That crushed and tortured thee.