I DREAM'D I walk'd, in raptures high, Through realms of sunny clime, Not of this earth; they seem'd to lie Beyond the bourne of time. Nor did they seem all heav'nly fair, But happy fields between This lowly earth of vexing care And the celestial scene. ... No labour long and hard oppress'd The happy human race, Save pleasing tasks with bracing rest, In this exalted place. No beast, throughout its breadth and length, Was e'er compell'd to toil; For POWERS of superhuman strength Gave culture to the soil. The chariots here, in gorgeous train, Sped swift in pageant tours; And vessels on the rolling main, Moved by these MIGHTY POWERS. ... I'd seen these god-like POWERS before On this our lowly earth; Was present at th' auspicious hour, When they received their birth: Yet here I miss'd the vexing cares, The avarice and pride, The loud contentions, angry jars, Which man from man divide. My wonder deep one standing near At once deign'd to explain; "Behold," he said, "the destined sphere Of GREAT MESSIAH'S reign! "HE slavish toil and care destroy'd, By aid of THESE VAST POWERS; While bliss, like Eden's, is enjoy'd In this bright land of ours! "And strangled by HIS mighty hold Are vice and sin and woe; As holy prophets had foretold Some thousand years ago!" Th' advancing day's tumultuous noise My happy slumber broke; From raptures of celestial joys, To real scenes I woke; Not without hopes the time would come. When earth would be renew'd, With all such glories in their bloom, As I in vision view'd! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A LITTLE WHILE by HORATIO (HORATIUS) BONAR HARLEM SHADOWS by CLAUDE MCKAY A WOMAN'S QUESTION by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER ADDRESS TO THE OCEAN by BRYAN WALLER PROCTER THE FIRST DANDELION by WALT WHITMAN THE MAUSOLEUM by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN A SWEET PASTORAL by NICHOLAS BRETON PROLOGUE FOR MRS. SUTHERLAND'S BENEFIT NIGHT by ROBERT BURNS |