SO near! and yet, I think, as far apart As heaven from hell, high noon from darkest night, Or buried face, from longing lover's sight: I dream of you, and then from dreams I start To hear the beating of my own sad heart, That snatched from dreams impossible delight, But quickly wakes again, in wretched plight, To meet the day's keen pain and ceaseless smart. How shall I comfort, then, my lonesome years -- Since dreams are dim, and sleeping time is brief -- ? For very full I am of restless fears, Blown to and fro, as is a vagrant leaf; And well I know how idle are the tears That burn my aching eyes, yet mock my grief. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LAST MAN by THOMAS CAMPBELL ODE WRITTEN IN [THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR] 1746 by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) FROM THE IONIAN ISLANDS by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES A FAERY SONG, SUNG BY THE PEOPLE OF FAERY OVER DIARMUID by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS CHARACTERS: MARTHA JENNINGS by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE LAND OF HOPE-TO-BE by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE A REED by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |