I dreamed a dream—but who can tell If breathed from heaven or born in hell! There glided from the wings of night An angel fair—a shrouded sprite. These mismatched ghosts of joy and pain Danced hand in hand across my brain— Together sang a sad sweet song Of bliss divine and speechless wrong. They both upon my heart-strings played, O'er tender scars and wounds new made. Their mystic music filled the air Like lover's laugh and martyr's prayer— Both blent in one, for evermore They sobbed against the silent shore. When I awoke my cheeks were wet— The old-time pain was ling'ring yet, But, as the tread on flow'ret fair Distills the fragrance hidden there, Those grief-born shadows of the past Were with a halo overcast. And thus I clung to weal and woe— They both were mine and must not go! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE TO EVENING by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) LULLABY OF A LOVER by GEORGE GASCOIGNE ON SOME LINES OF LOPE DE VEGA by SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-1784) TO A STEAM ROLLER by MARIANNE MOORE FAREWELL OF A VIRGINIA SLAVE MOTHER TO HER DAUGHTERS SOLD INTO BONDAGE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |