Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A REPOSE, by BRYAN WALLER PROCTER


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A REPOSE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: She sleeps among her pillows soft
Last Line: The other when starry night returns.
Alternate Author Name(s): Cornwall, Barry; Proctor, Bryan Waller
Subject(s): Sleep


SHE sleeps among her pillows soft,
(A dove, now wearied with her flight,)
And all around, and all aloft,
Hang flutes and folds of virgin white:
Her hair out-darkens the dark night,
Her glance outshines the starry sky;
But now her locks are hidden quite,
And closed is her fringed eye!

She sleepeth: wherefore doth she start?
She sigheth: doth she feel no pain?
None, none! the dream is near her heart:
The spirit of sleep is in her brain.
He cometh down like golden rain,
Without a wish, without a sound;
He cheers the sleeper (ne'er in vain)
Like May, when earth is winter-bound.

All day within some cave he lies,
Dethroned from his nightly sway --
Far fading when the dawning skies
Our souls with wakening thoughts array.
Two Spirits of might doth man obey;
By each he's wrought, from each he learns:
The one is Lord of life by day;
The other when starry night returns.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


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