THE DREAM
by: John Donne (1573-1631)
- EAR love, for nothing less than
thee
- Would I have broke this happy dream,
- It was a theme
- For reason, much too strong for fantasy.
- Therefore thou waked'st me wisely; yet
- My dream thou brok'st not, but continued'st it.
- Thou art so true that thoughts of thee suffice
- To make dreams truths and fables histories;
- Enter these arms, for since thou thought'st it best
- Not to dream all my dream, let's act the rest.
-
- As lightning, or a taper's light,
- Thine eyes, and not thy noise, waked me;
- Yet I thought thee--
- For thou lov'st truth--an angel, at first sight;
- But when I saw thou saw'st my heart,
- And knew'st my thoughts beyond an angel's art,
- When thou knew'st what I dreamt, when thou knew'st when
- Excess of joy would wake me, and cam'st then,
- I must confess it could not choose but be
- Profane to think thee anything but thee.
-
- Coming and staying show'd thee thee,
- But rising makes me doubt that now
- Thou art not thou.
- That Love is weak where Fear's as strong as he;
- 'Tis not all spirit pure and brave
- If mixture it of Fear, Shame, Honour have.
- Perchance as torches, which must ready be,
- Men light and put out, so thou deal'st with me.
- Thou cam'st to kindle, go'st to come: then I
- Will dream that hope again, but else would die.
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