Classic Poem

Last night as I lay on my bed
I dreamed a strange, sad dream.
The pathway that I travelled led
Along a sunlit stream

That mirrored, as it swept along,
The oaks that o'er it bent;
And with their weird, tuneless song,
Its own sweet cadence blent.

All things were bathed in golden light,
And flowers from many a nook
Bent down to kiss their faces bright
Reflected in the brook.

A wondrous wealth of dark blue sky
Seemed fallen at my feet,
And o'er its surface silently
There sailed a snowy fleet

Of fleecy clouds that gliding went
Toward a bank beyond
A velvet sward, all thickly sprent
With star-like flower and frond.

Reclining there I saw a form
I had not seen for years;
And o'er me passed a sudden storm
Of mingled hopes and fears.

He quickly rose and came to me,
And said, " Shall we be friends?
And oh, believe, the change in thee
My heart with sorrow rends. "

I answered, " Why dost thou desire
To open wounds half healed,
And fan to flame a dying fire
Deep in my sad heart sealed?

" Sad heart, " I said, " no longer sad,
For I have found a balm
For every sorrow that I had,
For every storm a calm.

" I gave thee honour, due by right
Unto a jealous God,
And in thy causeless, sudden flight
I kissed His chastening rod.

" Hast thou not blasted on my way
Each bud with deadly blight,
And taken from my life each ray
That made my girlhood bright?

" Why dost thou come to spoil my peace?
Wilt thou no mercy show?
I pray this cruel trifling cease;
In quiet let me go! "

" Yes, false to thee, dear girl, I seemed;
My thoughtlessness I rue.
Thy constant love too cold I deemed —
The wrong I'd fain undo.

" Forgive, and, as a day-star bright,
Beam on me when forgiven;
And turn my wayward thoughts aright
Like thine, from earth to heaven! "

I turned to gaze upon the stream
Where it had rippled by;
'Twas gone. Ah me! deluding dream!
Nor friend of old was nigh.

Then o'er me did rebellion steal;
The fight was lost, not won.
Nor could I say, with righteous zeal
" My God, Thy Will be done. "