Classic and Contemporary Poetry
GLENDEN'S DREAM, by EMILY JANE BRONTE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Tell me, watcher, is it winter? Last Line: Unavenged the avengers fall! Alternate Author Name(s): Bell, Ellis Subject(s): Dreams; Time; Nightmares | ||||||||
Tell me, watcher, is it winter? Say how long my sleep has been? Have the woods I left so lovely, Lost their robes of tender green? Is the morning slow in coming? Is the nighttime loath to go? Tell me, are the dreary mountains Drearier still with drifted snow? 'Captive, since thou sawest the forest All its leaves have died away And another March has woven Garlands for another May -- 'Ice has barred the Arctic water, Soft south winds have set it free And once more to deep green valley Golden flowers might welcome thee' -- Watcher, in this lonely prison, Shut from joy and kindly air Heaven, descending in a vision Taught my soul to do and bear -- It was night, a night of winter; I lay on the dungeon floor, And all other sounds were silent -- All, except the river's roar -- Over Death, and Desolation, Fireless hearths, and lifeless homes Over orphans' heart-sick sorrows, Over fathers' bloody tombs; Over friends that my arms never Might embrace, in love again -- Memory pondered until madness Struck its poignard in my brain -- Deepest slumber followed raving Yet, methought, I brooded still Still I saw my country bleeding Dying for a Tyrant's will -- Not because my bliss was blasted Burned within, the avenging flame -- Not because my scattered kindred Died in woe, or lived in shame God doth know, I would have given Every bosom dear to me Could that sacrifice have purchased Tortured Gondal's liberty! But, that at Ambition's bidding All her cherished hopes should wane; That her noblest sons should muster, Strive, and fight and fall in vain -- Hut and castle, hall and cottage, Roofless, crumbling to the ground -- Mighty Heaven, a glad Avenger Thy eternal justice found! Yes, the arm that once would shudder Even to pierce a wounded deer, I beheld it, unrelenting, Choke in blood its sovereign's prayer -- Glorious dream! I saw the city Blazing in imperial shine; And among adoring thousands Stood a man of form divine -- None need point the princely victim Now he smiles with royal pride! Now his glance is bright as lightning: Now -- the knife is in his side! Ha, I saw how Death could darken -- Darken that triumphant eye! His red heart's blood drenched my dagger; My ear drank his dying sigh! Shadows come! What means this midnight? O my God, I know it all! Know the fever-dream is over; Unavenged the Avengers fall! | 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 DAY DREAM by EMILY JANE BRONTE |
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