My prayers$$$ my tears$$$ my wishes$$$ fears$$$ and lamentations$$$ were witnessed by myself and heaven alone. When we are harassed by sorrows or anxieties$$$ or long oppressed by any powerful feelings which we must keep to ourselves$$$ for which we can obtain and seek no sympathy from any living creature$$$ and which yet we cannot$$$ or will not wholly crush$$$ we often naturally seek relief in poetry—and often find it$$$ too—whether in the effusions of others$$$ which seem to harmonize with our existing case$$$ or in our own attempts to give utterance to those thoughts and feelings in strains less musical$$$ perchance$$$ but more appropriate$$$ and therefore more penetrating and sympathetic$$$ and$$$ for the time$$$ more soothing$$$ or more powerful to rouse and to unburden the oppressed and swollen heart.