Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DREAM, by RICHARD WATSON DIXON Poet's Biography First Line: With camel's hair I clothed my skin Last Line: At once, and he died looking towards my face. Subject(s): Dreams; Nightmares | ||||||||
I With camel's hair I clothed my skin, I fed my mouth with honey wild; And set me scarlet wool to spin, And all my breast with hyssop filled; Upon my brow and cheeks and chin A bird's blood spilled. I took a broken reed to hold, I took a sponge of gall to press; I took weak water-weeds to fold About my sacrificial dress. I took the grasses of the field, The flax was bolled upon my crine; And ivy thorn and wild grapes healed To make good wine. I took my scrip of manna sweet, My cruse of water did I bless; I took the white dove by the feet, And flew into the wilderness. II The tiger came and played; Uprose the lion in his mane; The jackal's tawny nose And sanguine dripping tongue Out of the desert rose And plunged its sands among; The bear came striding o'er the desert plain. Uprose the horn and eyes And quivering flank of the great unicorn, And galloped round and round; Uprose the gleaming claw Of the leviathan, and wound In steadfast march did draw Its course away beyond the desert's bourn. I stood within a maze Woven round about me by a magic art, And ordered circle-wise: The bear more near did tread, And with two fiery eyes, And with a wolfish head, Did close the circle round in every part. III With scarlet corded horn, With frail wrecked knees and stumbling pace, The scapegoat came: His eyes took flesh and spirit dread in flame At once, and he died looking towards my face. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS: 14 by CONRAD AIKEN VARIATIONS: 18 by CONRAD AIKEN LIVE IT THROUGH by DAVID IGNATOW A DREAM OF GAMES by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL APOLOGY FOR BAD DREAMS by ROBINSON JEFFERS GIVE YOUR WISH LIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS |
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