I LAST night I saw you in my sleep: And how your charm of face was changed! I asked, "Some love, some faith you keep?" You answered, "Faith gone, love estranged." Whereat I woke -- a twofold bliss: Waking was one, but next there came This other: "Though I felt, for this, My heart break, I loved on the same." II YOU in the flesh and here -- Your very self! Now, wait! One word! May I hope or fear? Must I speak in love or hate? Stay while I ruminate! The fact and each circumstance Dare you disown? Not you! That vast dome, that huge dance, And the gloom which overgrew A -- possibly festive crew! For why should men dance at all -- Why women -- a crowd of both -- Unless they are gay? Strange ball -- Hands and feet plighting troth, Yet partners enforced and loth! Of who danced there, no shape Did I recognize: thwart, perverse, Each grasped each, past escape In a whirl or weary or worse: Man's sneer met woman's curse, While he and she toiled as if Their guardian set galley-slaves To supple chained limbs grown stiff: Unmanacled trulls and knaves -- The lash for who misbehaves! And a gloom was, all the while, Deeper and deeper yet O'ergrowing the rank and file Of that army of haters -- set To mimic love's fever-fret. By the wall-side close I crept, Avoiding the livid maze, And, safely so far, outstepped On a chamber -- a chapel, says My memory or betrays -- Closet-like, kept aloof From unseemly witnessing What sport made floor and roof Of the Devil's palace ring While his Damned amused their king. Ay, for a low lamp burned, And a silence lay about What I, in the midst, discerned Though dimly till, past doubt, 'T was a sort of throne stood out -- High seat with steps, at least: And the topmost step was filled By -- whom? What vestured priest A stranger to me, -- his guild, His cult, unreconciled To my knowledge how guild and cult Are clothed in this world of ours: I pondered, but no result Came to -- unless that Giaours So worship the Lower Powers. When suddenly who entered? Who knelt -- did you guess I saw? Who -- raising that face were centred Allegiance to love and law So lately -- off-casting awe, Down-treading reserve, away Thrusting respect ... but mine Stands firm -- firm still shall stay! Ask Satan! for I decline To tell -- what I saw, in fine! Yet here in the flesh you come -- Your same self, form and face, -- In the eyes, mirth still at home! On the lips, that commonplace Perfection of honest grace! Yet your errand is -- needs must be -- To palliate -- well, explain, Expurgate in some degree Your soul of its ugly stain. Oh, you -- the good in grain -- How was it your white took tinge? "A mere dream" -- never object! Sleep leaves a door on hinge Whence soul, ere our flesh suspect, Is off and away: detect Her vagaries when loose, who can! Be she pranksome, be she prude, Disguise with the day began: With the night -- ah, what ensued From draughts of a drink hell-brewed? Then She: "What a queer wild dream! And perhaps the best fun is -- Myself had its fellow -- I seem Scarce awake from yet. 'T was this -- Shall I tell you? First, a kiss! "For the fault was just your own, -- 'T is myself expect apology: You warned me to let alone (Since our studies were mere philology) That ticklish (you said) Anthology. "So I dreamed that I passed exam Till a question posed me sore: 'Who translated this epigram By -- an author we best ignore?' And I answered, 'Hannah More'!" III THIS was my dream: I saw a Forest Old as the earth, no track nor trace Of unmade man. Thou, Soul, explorest -- Though in a trembling rapture -- space Immeasurable! Shrubs, turned trees, Trees that touch heaven, support its freize Studded with sun and moon and star: While -- oh, the enormous growths that bar Mine eye from penetrating past Their tangled twine where lurks -- nay, lives Royally lone, some brute-type cast I' the rough, time cancels, man forgives. On, Soul! I saw a lucid City Of architectural device Every way perfect. Pause for pity, Lightning! nor leave a cicatrice On those bright marbles, dome and spire, Structures palatial, -- streets which mire Dares not defile, paved all too fine For human footstep's smirch, not thine -- Proud solitary traverser, My Soul, of silent lengths of way -- With what ecstatic dread, aver, Lest life start sanctioned by thy stay! Ah, but the last sight was the hideous! A City, yes, -- a Forest, true, -- But each devouring each. Perfidious Snake-plants had strangled what I knew Was a pavilion once: each oak Held on his horns some spoil he broke By surreptitiously beneath Upthrusting: pavements, as with teeth, Griped huge weed widening crack and split In squares and circles stone-work erst. Oh, Nature -- good! Oh, Art -- no whit Less worthy! Both in one -- accurst! IV IT happened thus: my slab, though new, Was getting weather-stained, -- beside, Herbage, balm, peppermint o'ergrew Letter and letter: till you tried Somewhat, the Name was scarce descried. That strong stern man my lover came: -- Was he my lover? Call him, pray, My life's cold critic bent on blame Of all poor I could do or say To make me worth his love one day -- One far day when, by diligent And dutiful amending faults, Foibles, all weaknesses which went To challenge and excuse assaults Of culture wronged by taste that halts -- Discrepancies should mar no pian Symmetric of the qualities Claiming respect from -- say -- a man That's strong and stern. "Once more he pries Into me with those critic eyes!" No question! so -- "Conclude, condemn Each failure my poor self avows! Leave to its fate all you contemn! There's Solomon's selected spouse: Earth needs must hold such maids -- choose them!" Why, he was weeping! Surely gone Sternness and strength: with eyes to ground And voice a broken monotone -- "Only be as you were! Abound In foibles, faults, -- laugh, robed and crowned "As Folly's veriest queen, -- care I One feather-fluff? Look pity, Love, On prostrate me -- your foot shall try This forehead's use -- mount thence above, And reach what Heaven you dignify!" Now, what could bring such change about? The thought perplexed: till, following His gaze upon the ground, -- why, out Came all the secret! So, a thing Thus simple has deposed my king! For, spite of weeds that strove to spoil Plain reading on the lettered slab, My name was clear enough -- no soil Effaced the date when one chance stab Of scorn ... if only ghosts might blab! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PISGAH SIGHTS by ROBERT BROWNING MONNA INNOMINATA, A SONNET OF SONNETS: 12 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI TO HIS DEAD BODY by SIEGFRIED SASSOON WELCOME GUEST by JEAN D. ARMSTRONG SONNET FROM JAPAN: 1. THE SPELL by ADELAIDE NICHOLS BAKER SPRING'S IMMORTALITY by H. T. MACKENZIE BELL MAN AND WOMAN GO THROUGH THE CANCER WARD by GOTTFRIED BENN MAXIMS FOR THE OLD HOUSE: THE KEEPING-ROOM by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH |