Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A DREAM, by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I had come in front of a building and knew Last Line: A batch of those french poets.' Alternate Author Name(s): Bridges, Robert+(2) Subject(s): Dreams; Nightmares | ||||||||
I HAD come in front of a building and knew I should enter: the gates were barr'd, but a postern was open, and I push'd through and stood in a wide courtyard. Twas built, as colleges are, four-square, though arch and colonnade all here were of wood and out of repair, timeworn but undecay'd. Great carven portals in Gothic style, when building could save man's soul: doors worthy to face a cathedral aisle, or where men-at-arms patrol. But whether 'twere some old abbey of monks with cloister, chapel and cell, or a farmstead with pens and stalls and bunks for cattle, I could not tell. There neither were cattle nor men about, no cock nor clock gave steven; and I in my dream had never a doubt 'twas the entry-court of heaven. An old man then appear'd from a door and silently moved around; his beard was grisled and thick, and he wore a cassock that reach'd the ground; Stately his figure and lofty his mien, solemn and slow his tread: 'twas Peter the Saint; I had often seen in pictures his noble head, Which truly in Guido's painting is shown sadden'd and full of force, as unconvinced he sits on a stone suffering Paul's discourse. Like any night-watchman he walked along peering about on his rounds, attentive to see that nothing is wrong, no smoke nor thief within bounds; Or like a merchant who checks his stores, sorting his trusty keys, he unlock'd and anon relock'd the doors, visiting now those, now these. Quiet I stood sans hope or fear, nor moved to catch his eye, nor felt annoy'd when he came quite near and pass'd me unnoticed by: I knew he must know I was there; the scheme of eternity gave us time; so I took whatever might hap in my dream as easy as now in my rhyme. When, as to a prodigal son, from afar he approach'dhe had been remiss through kindnesshe said 'I know who you are: you won't get further than this: 'You needn't be bash'd nor mortified, nor fancy you're laid on the shelf: things ain't as they used to be inside; I don't go in much myself.' Then passing away he turn'd again, as if to relieve his mind, and spokeif partly he wished to explain, I'm sure he willed to be kind: He look'd full glumit may be a sin to repeat his words, as I know it's bad tastebut he said(He'll square me the sin): 'Why! what d'you think? We've just took in a batch of those French poets.' | 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 PASSER-BY by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES |
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