Ebony and Crystal/Nightmare

by Clark Ashton Smith

For works with similar titles, see Nightmare.

NIGHTMARE

As though a thousand vampires, from the dayFleeing unseen, oppressed that nightly deep,The straitening and darkened skies of sleepClosed on the dreamland dale in which I lay.

Eternal tensions numbed the wings of Time,While through the unending narrow ways I soughtAwakening; up precipitous gloom I thoughtTo reach the dawn, far-pinnacled sublime.

Rejected at the closen gates of lightI turned, and down new dreams and shadows fled,Where beetling Shapes of veiled, colossal dreadWith Gothic wings enormous arched the night.