Jonathan Howard - The Dream

PART ONE

‘Twas down the street one gloomy night,
A lovely chill of air;
When near my eyes I saw some sight,
Right then I was aware.

A seabird swooped (I can’t deny)
Above my head (so fair!) ,
And as I gazed right through the sky,
Astonished I was there.

I stared up into holy bounds;
Their gates were opened [high]:
A land of havens, safe and sound,
Tucked just behind the sky.

Just out of holy scripts and books,
A scene so fresh and clear;
I could not shake off it my looks,
And thought: “It’s near – it’s here.”

Before my eyes lay an array
Of clouds blue and maroon,
And through that bright night shot a ray,
Right from the hidden moon.

And those deep clouds of darkened tones,
Were dark as night could be;
Like silhoüettes of heavy drones
Cast down upon the quay.

Out of a grand gap through the clouds,
The white light boldly shone;
Just spinning skies’-stuff and fog-shrouds,
Thus forming Luna’s throne.

As in the Dream, that lovely beam,
Revived grey, grim, with lime;
And staring at that vivid stream
Of light – moved me in time.

PART TWO

A dream I saw, so pure and raw,
A holy, reäl truth;
And Spirits holy [Wow! ] I saw,
My soul itself was soothed.

Napoleön and Cassiüs,
Old kings and senators,
Mark Antony and Juliüs,
And many professors,

So many digni