Poems (Shipton)/The Dream of Heaven
THE DREAM OF HEAVEN.
"I sleep but my heart waketh. It is the voice of my Beloved.
Sol. Song v. 2.
Are the pearly portals open,
I have yearned to enter long?
Is my dream of sorrow broken,
By a seraph's joyful song?
I have yearned to enter long?
Is my dream of sorrow broken,
By a seraph's joyful song?
Have I crossed the crystal river?
Shall I tread the golden street,
"Where the verdant palm-leaves quiver,
To one holy Name and sweet?
Shall I tread the golden street,
"Where the verdant palm-leaves quiver,
To one holy Name and sweet?
Why, my soul, this exultation?
Hast thou passed remotest space?
Heard the anthems of salvation?
Seen my Saviour face to face?
Hast thou passed remotest space?
Heard the anthems of salvation?
Seen my Saviour face to face?
Scarce I knew if sweetly o'er me
Heaven had opened bright and fair,
Till I missed the looked-for glory
Of my Saviour's welcome there.
Heaven had opened bright and fair,
Till I missed the looked-for glory
Of my Saviour's welcome there.
Where is He my Life hath proved
True and faithful to the last?
Where is He, my soul's Beloved,
He on whom my hope is cast?
True and faithful to the last?
Where is He, my soul's Beloved,
He on whom my hope is cast?
'Twas a dream. The crystal river
Came of tear-drops in mine eye;
Tears which shall not flow for ever.
He who wept at Bethany
Came of tear-drops in mine eye;
Tears which shall not flow for ever.
He who wept at Bethany
Shed such solace o'er my sorrow,
Earth's afflictions were forgot,
And I hailed a joyful morrow,
Dawning on my weary lot.
Earth's afflictions were forgot,
And I hailed a joyful morrow,
Dawning on my weary lot.
Now, my heart within me burning,
Better than my dream I see;
Christ is near me in my mourning;
Where He is, is heaven to me.
Better than my dream I see;
Christ is near me in my mourning;
Where He is, is heaven to me.