Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE HOSTEL OF SLEEP, by RACHEL ANNAND TAYLOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE HOSTEL OF SLEEP, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tis the hostel of sleep. Come in, come in!
Last Line: As you lie at rest in the chamber blue.
Subject(s): Dreams; Knights & Knighthood; Love; Sleep; Nightmares


'TIS the Hostel of Sleep. Come in, come in!
Are ye spent and bleeding and shamed and cold?
Have they wronged you, Scholar?—Fair young Knight,
Are you quite despoiled of your arms of gold?
Yet here is a mazer-cup for you,
And a great kind bed in the Chamber Blue.

'Tis the Hostel of Sleep. Come in, come in!
Ah! There was many an ambush set!
Lover and foe they have hurt you sore.
Lover and foe shall you now forget,
For the moons and poppies woven through
The arras rare of the Chamber Blue.

'Tis the Hostel of Sleep. Come in, come in!
Passionate Pilgrim, swooning-pale,
Loose the fardel and kiss the Cup,
For here is the end of every tale.
Only the things of peace are true.
There is fire on the hearth of the Chamber Blue.

'Tis the Hostel of Sleep. Come in, come in!
Strong it is like an olden keep:
The Sign of the Star is over all,
With the Water of Dreams it is moated deep:
And the Host himself will warden you
As you lie at rest in the Chamber Blue.





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