Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DEATH-DREAM, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE


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THE DEATH-DREAM, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Who, now, put dreams into thy slumbering mind?
Last Line: Called back to thee across the eternal stream?
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Subject(s): Sleep


Who, now, put dreams into thy slumbering mind?
Who, with bright Fear's lean taper, crossed a hand
Athwart its beam, and stooping, truth maligned,
Spake so thy spirit speech should understand,
And with a dread 'He's dead!' awaked a peal
Of frenzied bells along the vacant ways
Of thy poor earthly heart; waked thee to steal,
Like dawn distraught upon unhappy days,
To prove nought, nothing? Was it Time's large voice
Out of the inscrutable future whispered so?
Or but the horror of a little noise
Earth wakes at dead of night? Or does Love know
When his sweet wings weary and droop, and even
In sleep cries audibly a shrill remorse?
Or, haply, was it I who out of dream
Stole but a little way where shadows course,
Called back to thee across the eternal stream?





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