Poems (Curwen)/A Vision of the Night
A Vision of the Night.
I, sleeping, dreamt a dream so strange, A dream that haunts me yet,Though months have rolled, its mem'ry stirs My soul with sad regret.Would God, mine eyes had ne'er unclosed To earthly care and fret.
For in this vision of the night While slumbering I lay,I saw the winds of heaven loosed, Power given them to slay;And like destroying angels all Sped on their awful way.
The sea rose, lashed to fury by The violence of the blast,And hurled the mighty waves on shore, While awful thunders crashed,And from the lowering heavens tongues Of lightning leapt and flashed.
The earth quaked, and great chasms yawned Where solid ground had been, Then suddenly thick darkness fell— 'Twas felt, as well as seen—Thick darkness which intensified The horrors of the scene.
The crash of thunders, and the roar The winds and waters made, Appalled the stoutest hearts, and filled The souls of men with dread; My children weeping round me clung Trembling and sore afraid.
The people wept, and wrung their hands Saying the end is nigh! And some stood speechless with amaze Waiting the hour to die—When lo! two mighty beasts appeared Outlined against the sky.
A lion, rampant, and a bear— Together fiercely strove, And fascinated by the sight Of the strange scene above, We stood in mingled awe and fear Afraid to speak or move.
Anon, the lightning's lurid glare Lit up the fearsome night, Shewing faces drawn with mortal fear, And pallid with affright; Then the dark heaven's opened and Revealed a strange sight.
Then did the weeping people cry "It is the day of doom!"For one appeared whose radiant form Did the dark night illume; And my soul trembled as I saw The bright form cleave the gloom.
Nearer it came, then I discerned— Through the misty, silver haze Shrouding the vision—One who filled My soul with glad amaze, For I beheld with holy joy The blessed Saviour's face.
And then, strange mystery! my soul Forgot her awful fear! Forgot her agonising dread In knowing Christ was near; And in a tumult of delight Cried out, "The Lord is here!"
through the 'wildering darkness sped With eager flying feet—And o'er the yawning chasms leapt In haste the Lord to greet; And in an ecstasy of joy Fell weeping at His feet.
And woke, to find my pillow wet With those glad joyous tears; Awoke to all life's care and fret, And the burden of the years; Awoke to all the weary round Of daily hopes and fears.
Awoke to all the bitterness A waking moment brings; Awoke to all the sordidness Of life and mundane things. Would I had died when I beheld Thy face, O King of Kings! ·····My soul needs no interpreter To make the vision clear. When the stars shall fall, and the heavens melt, And the Lord shall re-appear. Faith will be "lost in sight," and then "Love will cast out all fear."