Poems (Chitwood)/Dreaming

by Mary Louisa Chitwood

For works with similar titles, see Dreaming.

DREAMING.

Dreaming, this delicious night.
While the May-moon's eyes of light
Softly. pensively, look through
Evening's cloister gates of blue;
While the south winds, rustling, creep
To the nooks where blossoms sleep,
Pressing on each folded lid,
Kisses, through the day forbid;
And beneath the starry beams
I have given my heart to dreams.

Not of snowy orchard-blooms,
Wild bees sleeping 'mid perfumes
Not of moss-embroidered brooks
Not of violet-dotted nooks;
Nor of homesteads, old and brown,
Where the moonbeams shimmer down;
Not of hills and grassy dales,
Nor of fairy-haunted vales;
Not of earthly birth the light,
Crowning all my dreams to-night.

For my soul hath taken wings,
Dreaming of celestial things,
And the city seen of old,
With its streets of shining gold,
With its bright-haired seraphim;
Where the day can ne'er grow dim,
Where the light shines like a mist
O'er the walls of amethyst,—
A faint shadow of the light
Gilds my happy dreams to-night.

I forgot my weary lot,
All my struggles are forgot;
Serpents coiled amid the flowers,
Thorns that pierced in other hours,
Hopes that perished all unblest,
Friends who died when loved the best,
Partings that the heart have crushed,
Prayers rebellion's voice have hushed,—
No dark ghost of sin and blight,
Glideth through my dreams to-night.

Ah! 'tis sweet the cross to bear,
Sweet to lift the heart in prayer,
Sweet the faith without a fear,
Love that bringeth heaven so near,
Till o'er life's thorn-dotted way
Beams the dawn of perfect day;
Till the path seems short and sweet
Leading to the Saviour's feet.
Oh, baptized in strength and light,
Seems my inner soul to-night!

Dear one, through life's changeful way,
Through its darkness, and its day,
May we shun the ways of sin,
May we strive the crown to win;
Though our life-paths lead apart,
Let this thought be in each heart.
Soon will life be over, then
Gladly we shall meet again,
In the land whose starry light
Gildeth all my dreams to-night.