Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IN A VISION OF THE NIGHT, by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH Poet's Biography First Line: My chamber is so hot, I cannot rest Last Line: Let me go! I too did dream. Subject(s): Night; Bedtime | ||||||||
SCENE: A garden lit with moonlight. Enter THE LADY, followed by NANON. THE LADY My chamber is so hot, I cannot rest. And when I wake, I needs must think. Nanon, I'll lie here in the cool and sleep awhile, If sleep may come. Nanon! NANON Dear Lady, yes. THE LADY Go get your lute and charm my slumber, lest It bring me dreams that should not visit me.[Exit NANON] In visions of the night -- ! Oh if my thoughts Strayed from my lord and master, unto him I must not touch -- not even in a dream -- And lingered with him! I am afraid! For thoughts Do presage acts. I dare not think of him! For thinking -- I must see! And if I see -- Oh Heaven, be merciful to me! I say That women are as helpless, soft and strange, As the frail water clinging upon stone -- A comfort in the noonday and at night A very gentle solace. They abide In sweet and delicate ways, and one shall smile, Saying, "She is with me always." Yet in sooth, Even while she tarries and makes him sweet and blest, Her thoughts are from him, woven in a cloud; For so the wind obtains her dreams and she Is passing always, not to be detained. (She seats herself on the garden bench. NANON enters with lute, singing) NANON The way that leads to heart's delight -- It is not very long, As brief as tears, as quick as smiles, And ended like a song. The road that lies to heart's desire Travels not very far, There 's never a stone, there's never a brier -- THE LADY I do not like your song. NANON It is of love! THE LADY Have you no ditty that is soft and cool, As cool as snow, as soft and still as sleep? NANON (Singing) My thoughts are gathered of thee as the wind Gathers the mist of the water and so "I could dream of thee, an thou hadst the mind," Quoth he in the dark -- THE LADY Oh peace, Nanon! Have you not any song Would quiet love as death would quiet woe? NANON Oh Lady dear, that song was never sung. THE LADY Be quiet, then. I'll sleep. And the good angels Must guard my dreams. (She lies down on the bench) NANON (Singing) My thoughts are gathered of thee as the wind Gathers the mist from the water -- (THE LADY sleeps, and NANON, hushing her song, looks over the garden) This great night Wherein all things do sleep, is terrible. Is there anything happening? (She walls away from the sleeping LADY, among the trees) The air seems full Of presences that meet and mingle! Oh -- Where are the stars! Peace -- peace! Unstable me! (Strikes her lute and sings) I would have fled -- but yet the heavenly powers Brought back the road to you. That God that made all love, made this of ours But we that share it, oh what shall we do? (She thinks she hears a movement and starts hack to the garden bench) Oh Lady dear -- and have you waked so soon? (She sees that THE LADY slumbers) I thought I heard my Lady leave her couch! What did I see that flitted through the garden? Shadows, I think, or else perhaps two lovers That seek a lonely world of green delight. Ah -- I have sighed and sipped like all the rest, Feasted and sorrowed, and would do so again! Ah me -- what bliss has taken the midnight air, What strange old sorrow and what vast despair! THE LADY (starting up) I dreamed that in a garden I did sit Where I had sat for centuries, and sang. I heard his echoing steps sound far away. He sought for me amid the thick green leaves And found my hands but could not see my face. I could not break from him nor did I try, But crossing the moonlight looked into his eyes, And looking, read that thing that had to be. And we passed on and came together where The night lay softly singing in the green -- And then -- Nanon! (As if in terror.) NANON Oh Lady dear -- what now? THE LADY Have I been lying quiet all this while? NANON Dear Lady, yes. THE LADY What happens in the night? NANON All still. Nothing abroad save two black shadows That through the purple darkness I saw flit. THE LADY Then go, Nanon, and leave me here alone. (NANON goes out and THE LADY'S lover enters) THE LADY What are you doing here? This time of night! HER LOVER I was roused from sleep. I had so strange a dream. THE LADY What? Had you then? I pray you -- tell your dream. HER LOVER I dreamed that through a garden at dusk I came. THE LADY Not that! HER LOVER I heard you sing. THE LADY I am afraid And what came then? HER LOVER When I that singing heard I sought for you amid the thick green leaves. THE LADY Oh peace, you babbler of a foolish dream! HER LOVER And found your hands but could not see your face. THE LADY Oh go! My heart will break. I bid you go! HER LOVER And then I saw your face and in your eyes I read what was to be. THE LADY In my eyes? No You have forgot! I read that end in yours. HER LOVER And we two rose and went together where We heard the twilight singing in the green. THE LADY Wonderful twilight singing in the green! HER LOVER And then -- THE LADY And then, oh sweet! I know it well -- HER LOVER You know it? -- THE LADY Let me go! I too did dream. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BREATH OF NIGHT by RANDALL JARRELL HOODED NIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP by ROBINSON JEFFERS WORKING OUTSIDE AT NIGHT by DENIS JOHNSON POEM TO TAKE BACK THE NIGHT by JUNE JORDAN COOL DARK ODE by DONALD JUSTICE POEM TO BE READ AT 3 A.M by DONALD JUSTICE ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT by BOB KAUFMAN SONGS FOR MY MOTHER: 2. HER HANDS by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH |
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