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.
(John Lawson Stoddard)
More Poetry from John Lawson Stoddard:
John Lawson Stoddard Poems based on Topics: Life, Light, World, Man, Pain, Sense & Perception, War & Peace, Joy & Excitement, Dreams, Birds, Hatred- Rachel (John Lawson Stoddard Poems)
- Oswald, The Minnesinger (John Lawson Stoddard Poems)
- Orient To Occident, 1906 (John Lawson Stoddard Poems)
- Japan,--Old And New (John Lawson Stoddard Poems)
- Rome Revisited (John Lawson Stoddard Poems)
- The Kiss To The Flag (John Lawson Stoddard Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, Life Poems, World Poems, Light Poems, War & Peace Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Sense & Perception Poems, Dreams Poems, Pain Poems, Birds Poems, Children PoemsBased on Keywords: programme, homicide, doers, reawaken, woke-and