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Poem
May 30, 1835
The Daily Cincinnati Republican, And Commercial Register
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio
What is this article about?
A reflective poem lamenting the illusions of life's pleasures, friendship, and love, which turn to disappointment, culminating in a yearning for a heavenly realm beyond earthly passions.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Whether the following lines have ever before been published we know not, from the manner in which they were communicated to us; but if they had been a thousand times, they could lose none of the beauty with which they abound. We should like, if possible, to know the author of these lines.—Phil. Herald,
THE DREAM OF LIFE.
'T was but a bubble—yet 'twas bright;
And gaily danced along the stream
Of life's wild torrent, in the light
Of sunbeams sparkling—like a dream
Of heaven's bliss, for loveliness—
For fleetness, like a passing thought;
And ever of such hopes as these
The tissue of my life is wrought,
For I have dreamed of pleasures when
The sun of young existence smiled
Upon my wayward path, and then
Her promised sweets my heart beguiled,
But when I came those sweets to sip
They turned to gall upon my lip.
And I have dreamed of friendship too;
For friendship I had thought was made
To be man's solace in the shade,
And glad him in the light—and so
I madly thought to find a friend
Whose soul with mine would sweetly blend,
And as two placid streams unite,
And roll their waters in one bright
And tranquil current to the sea,
So might our happy spirits be
Borne onward to eternity—
But he betrayed me; and with pain
I woke—to sleep and dream again.
And then I dreamed of Love; and all
The clustered visions of the past
Seem'd airy nothings to that last
Bright dream. It threw a magical
Enchantment on existence—cast
A glory on my path so bright,
I seemed to breathe and feel its light;
But now that blissful dream is o'er,
And I have waked to dream no more.
Beyond each distant glimmering star
That twinkles in the arch above,
There is a world of truth and love
Which earth's vile passions never mar;
Oh! could I snatch the eagle's plumes,
And soar to that bright world away,
Which God's own holy light illumes
With glories of eternal day.
How gladly every lingering tie
That binds me down to earth I'd sever,
And leave, for that blest home on high,
This hollow-hearted world forever.
THE DREAM OF LIFE.
'T was but a bubble—yet 'twas bright;
And gaily danced along the stream
Of life's wild torrent, in the light
Of sunbeams sparkling—like a dream
Of heaven's bliss, for loveliness—
For fleetness, like a passing thought;
And ever of such hopes as these
The tissue of my life is wrought,
For I have dreamed of pleasures when
The sun of young existence smiled
Upon my wayward path, and then
Her promised sweets my heart beguiled,
But when I came those sweets to sip
They turned to gall upon my lip.
And I have dreamed of friendship too;
For friendship I had thought was made
To be man's solace in the shade,
And glad him in the light—and so
I madly thought to find a friend
Whose soul with mine would sweetly blend,
And as two placid streams unite,
And roll their waters in one bright
And tranquil current to the sea,
So might our happy spirits be
Borne onward to eternity—
But he betrayed me; and with pain
I woke—to sleep and dream again.
And then I dreamed of Love; and all
The clustered visions of the past
Seem'd airy nothings to that last
Bright dream. It threw a magical
Enchantment on existence—cast
A glory on my path so bright,
I seemed to breathe and feel its light;
But now that blissful dream is o'er,
And I have waked to dream no more.
Beyond each distant glimmering star
That twinkles in the arch above,
There is a world of truth and love
Which earth's vile passions never mar;
Oh! could I snatch the eagle's plumes,
And soar to that bright world away,
Which God's own holy light illumes
With glories of eternal day.
How gladly every lingering tie
That binds me down to earth I'd sever,
And leave, for that blest home on high,
This hollow-hearted world forever.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Friendship
Love Courtship
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Dream Of Life
Life Illusions
Friendship Betrayal
Lost Love
Heavenly Longing
Earthly Disappointment
Poem Details
Title
The Dream Of Life.
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
'T Was But A Bubble—Yet 'Twas Bright;
And Gaily Danced Along The Stream
Of Life's Wild Torrent, In The Light
Of Sunbeams Sparkling—Like A Dream
But When I Came Those Sweets To Sip
They Turned To Gall Upon My Lip.
But He Betrayed Me; And With Pain
I Woke—To Sleep And Dream Again.
But Now That Blissful Dream Is O'er,
And I Have Waked To Dream No More.
Oh! Could I Snatch The Eagle's Plumes,
And Soar To That Bright World Away,
Which God's Own Holy Light Illumes
With Glories Of Eternal Day.