I am as one who is left alone at a banquet, the lights dead and
the flowers faded.

I am as one who is left alone at a banquet, the lights dead and
the flowers faded.

Solitude would be ideal if you could pick the people to avoid.

Solitude would be ideal if you could pick the people to avoid.

So lonely 'twas that God himself
Scarce seemed there to be.

So lonely 'twas that God himself
Scarce seemed there to be.

I praise the Frenchman; his remark was shrewd,--
"How sweet, how passing sweet is solitude."
But grant read more

I praise the Frenchman; his remark was shrewd,--
"How sweet, how passing sweet is solitude."
But grant me still a friend in my retreat,
Whom I may whisper--Solitude is sweet.

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife.

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife.

I was never less alone than when by myself.

I was never less alone than when by myself.

Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.

Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.

But 'midst the crowd, the hum, the shock of men,
To hear, to see, to feel, and to possess,
read more

But 'midst the crowd, the hum, the shock of men,
To hear, to see, to feel, and to possess,
And roam along, the world's tired denizen,
With none who bless us, none whom we can bless.

So vain is the belief
That the sequestered path has fewest flowers.

So vain is the belief
That the sequestered path has fewest flowers.