Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DREAMLAND, by JOHN LAWSON STODDARD Poet's Biography First Line: I woke from dreams of rare delight Last Line: And reawaken . . . Nevermore. Subject(s): Children; Death; Dreams; Sleep; Youth; Childhood; Dead, The; Nightmares | ||||||||
I woke from dreams of rare delight And visions of a joyous land, Where loved ones, long since lost to sight, Walked blithely with me, hand in hand: Where every brow was free from care, And Youth's sublime ideals shone Like planets in an Alpine air, And death's sad mystery was known. I woke, -- and like a bird that waits, Uncertain where to wend its flight, My spirit lingered at the gates, Which close upon that realm of light; Till, slowly, all around grew clear, And once again the light of day Convinced me that I still was here, Though all my dreams had passed away. Once more I faced a world of Pain! Of quivering nerves and sure decay, Of helpless brutes, by millions, slain To feed mankind a single day! Of shivering children, scarred with blows, Of hunted bird and tortured beast, Of War, whose hideous programme shows Its means of homicide increased. The same old world of greed and hate, Of selfish act and paltry aim, Of private fraud and venal State, Of deeds and doers steeped in shame! What marvel if the spirit shrinks From plunging in that turbid stream? Or if, on waking thus, one thinks That life was better in his dream? Sweet, peaceful dreamland! I await The favored hour, to pass again Within thine asphodelian gate, Beyond the miseries of men; To find old pleasures, long since gone, Perchance as vivid as of yore, Or else to sleep, -- life's curtains drawn, -- And reawaken . . . nevermore. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS: 14 by CONRAD AIKEN VARIATIONS: 18 by CONRAD AIKEN LIVE IT THROUGH by DAVID IGNATOW A DREAM OF GAMES by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL APOLOGY FOR BAD DREAMS by ROBINSON JEFFERS GIVE YOUR WISH LIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS A MAY MONODY by JOHN LAWSON STODDARD |
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