Felicia Hemans in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine Volume 36 1834/Dreams of the Dead

by Felicia Hemans

For other versions of this work, see Sonnets, Devotional and Memorial. 2. IX. Dreams of the Dead.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 36, Page 802

IX.

DREAMS OF THE DEAD.

Oft in still night-dreams a departed face
Bends o'er me with sweet earnestness of eye,
Wearing no more of earthly pains a trace,
But all the tender pity that may lie
On the clear brow of Immortality;
Calm, yet profound—soft rays illume that mien,
The unshadowed moonlight of some far off sky
Around it floats, transparently serene,
As a pure veil of waters.—O rich sleep!
The spells are mighty in thy regions deep,
To glorify with reconciling breath,
Effacing, brightening; giving forth to shine
Beauty's high truth, and how much more divine
Thy power when linked in this with thy strong brother—Death!