Classic Poem

What awful sounds were in the air,
With tears and torment everywhere!
My feet were on the sinking sands,
They drew me down; I wrung my hands,
And creatures whom I could not see,
With cruel laughter mocked at me;
I could not breathe, I could not die,
And all the time, within the sky,
Were soldiers fighting. Black and red
Their banners waved above my head.
But suddenly a low voice spoke:
“Good-morning, dear.” I heard and woke.
And with a glad exultant scream
I cried—“It was a dream! a dream!”

But yesterday I saw a face
Grow white and still within its place,
And over eyes that long had wept,
A blessed darkness slowly crept.
O friend beloved, all pain was passed,
And you were sound asleep at last.
I smiled to think you were so safe
From words and deeds that grieve and chafe;
That Sorrow's self, in garments gray,
Like wavering mist, had fled away;
I thought you heard, as music clear,
New voices say “Good morning, dear.”
And waking where the glory streamed,
You joyful cried—“I dreamed! I dreamed!”

What awful sounds were in the air,
With tears and torment everywhere!
My feet were on the sinking sands,
They drew me down; I wrung my hands,
And creatures whom I could not see,
With cruel laughter mocked at me;
I could not breathe, I could not die,
And all the time, within the sky,
Were soldiers fighting. Black and red
Their banners waved above my head.
But suddenly a low voice spoke:
“Good-morning, dear.” I heard and woke.
And with a glad exultant scream
I cried—“It was a dream! a dream!”

But yesterday I saw a face
Grow white and still within its place,
And over eyes that long had wept,
A blessed darkness slowly crept.
O friend beloved, all pain was passed,
And you were sound asleep at last.
I smiled to think you were so safe
From words and deeds that grieve and chafe;
That Sorrow's self, in garments gray,
Like wavering mist, had fled away;
I thought you heard, as music clear,
New voices say “Good morning, dear.”
And waking where the glory streamed,
You joyful cried—“I dreamed! I dreamed!”