My Childhood

by James Nack

Written at the age of fifteen.

My childhood scenes! oh, where are they?
I now am but in boyhood's years,
Yet on no scene my glance can stray
To memory one trace endears
Of childhood's smiles, or childhood's tears;
I look at every spot so strange, --
So altered now, -- and then I say,
While pained my heart remarks the change,
My childhood scenes! oh, where are they?

My childhood friends! oh, where are they?
The dearest in the grave recline,
And others, long estranged away,
Forget they e'er were friends of mine;
And yet I never can resign
The memory of even such
As least repaid affection's sway;
But still this thought my soul must touch,
My childhood friends! oh, where are they?

My childhood joys! oh, where are they?
And where the innocence, which gave
To every joy its purest ray?
Those joys have found an early grave; --
That innocence! -- oh could I save
The innocence of childhood's hour,
Not thus should I be sorrow's prey,
Nor sigh beneath affliction's shower,
My childhood joys! oh, where are they?

Where is my childhood now? and where
Shall be my youth? -- its every joy?
Its every scene? -- But spare, oh spare
Its friends, though time all else destroy!
And if some feelings yet employ
My mind, which heaven may pure esteem,
Oh! may I not the horror bear
To say, when launched on manhood's stream,
Where are such feelings now! oh, where?