Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN SLEEP, by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN SLEEP, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Not drowsihood and dreams and mere idless
Last Line: Rises a greatheart where a slave lay down.
Subject(s): Dreams; God; Past; Sleep; Soul; Nightmares


NOT drowsihood and dreams and mere idless,
Nor yet the blessedness of strength regained,
Alone are in what men call sleep. The past,
My unsuspected soul, my parents' voice,
The generations of my forbears, yea,
The very will of God himself are there
And potent-working: so that many a doubt
Is wiped away at daylight, many a soil
Washed cleanlier, many a puzzle riddled plain.
Strong, silent forces push my puny self
Towards unguessed issues, and the waking man
Rises a Greatheart where a Slave lay down.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net