Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VISIONS: 5, by HEINRICH HEINE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VISIONS: 5, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Why stirs and chafes my madden'd blood?
Last Line: She blush'd, well pleased with what she heard.
Subject(s): Anger; Dreams; Evil; Nightmares


WHY stirs and chafes my madden'd blood?
Why burns my heart in furious mood?
My blood fast boils, and foams and fumes,
And passion fierce my heart consumes.

My mad blood boils in foaming stream,
Because I've dreamt an evil dream:
Night's gloomy son appear'd one day,
And bore me in his arms away.

To a bright house soon brought he me,
Where sounded harp and revelry,
And torches gleam'd and tapers shone --
The hall I entered then alone.

I saw a merry wedding feast,
The glad guests round the table press'd;
And when the bridal pair I spied,
O woe! my mistress was the bride.

There was my love, and strange to say,
A stranger claim'd her hand to-day.
Then close behind her chair of honour
I silent stood and gazed upon her.

The music sounded -- still I stood;
Their joy but swell'd my mournful mood;
The bride she look'd so highly blest,
Her hand the while the bridegroom press'd.

The bridegroom next fill'd full his cup,
And from it drank, then gave it up
Unto the bride; she smiled a thank;
O woe! my red blood 'twas she drank.

The bride a rosy apple took,
And gave it him with smiling look;
He took his knife, and cut a part;
O woe! it was indeed my heart.

They lovingly each other eyed,
The bridegroom boldly clasp'd the bride,
And kissed her on her cheeks so red;
O woe! cold death kiss'd me instead.

Like lead my tongue within me lay,
Vainly I strove one word to say;
A noise was heard, -- the dance began,
The bridal pair were in the van.

Whilst I stood rooted to the ground,
The dancers nimbly whirl'd around;
The bridegroom spoke a whisper'd word, --
She blush'd, well pleased with what she heard.





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