TOCHARLESLLOYD

tocharleslloyd

anunexpectedvisitor

(january,1797.textof1818)

alone,obscure,withoutafriend,

acheerless,solitarything,

whyseeks,mylloyd,thestrangerout?

whatofferingcanthestrangerbring

ofsocialscenes,home-breddelights,

thathiminaughtcompensatemay

forstowey'spleasantwinternights,

forlovesandfriendshipsfaraway?

inbriefobliviontoforego

friends,suchasthine,sojustlydear,

andbeawhilewithmecontent

tostay,akindlyloiterer,here:

forthisagleamofrandomjoy

hathflush'dmyustom'dcheek;

and,withano'er-charg'dburstingheart,

ifeelthethanksicannotspeak.

oh!sweetareallthemuses'lays,

andsweetthecharmofmatinbird;

'twaslongsincetheseestrangedears

thesweetervoiceoffriendhadheard.

thevoicehathspoke:thepleasantsounds

inmemory'searinaftertime

shalllive,tosometimesrouseatear,

andsometimespromptanhonestrhyme.

for,whenthetransientcharmisfled,

andwhenthelittleweekiso'er,

tocheerless,friendless,solitude

whenireturn,asheretofore,

long,long,withinmyachingheart

thegratefulsenseshallcherish'dbe;

i'llthinklessmeanlyofmyself,

thatlloydwillsometimesthinkonme.