Poems (Howard)/A Dream (How strange! it seems but yesterday)

by Hattie Howard

For works with similar titles, see A Dream.

A Dream.

How strange! it seems but yesterday
 I clasped thee to my ardent heart!
And now, a thousand leagues away
 Beyond the swelling seas thou art.

Oh! wearily the hours have sped
 Since that sad day when last we met
And parted, while the sun o'erhead
 Grew darker, as in fond regret.

But nights of gloom that shroud my soul
 Are lighted up by dreams of thee—
Sweet dreams! which could I but control
 Would last through all eternity.

'T was such an one, the other night,
 Illumed this dreary world of mine
As with a ray of heavenly light,
 And filled my heart with joy divine.

A meteor in my darkened sky
 Thy spirit came, as o'er the deep,
And wiped the tear-drop from my eye
 And calmed the wave of troubled sleep.

Encircling arms dispelled my pain;
 A tender voice, a phantom kiss,
A loving smile revived again
 Old, unforgotten days of bliss.

But sad the wakening—sad to know
 That this, the brief refulgent gleam
Of happiness, that thrilled me so,
 Was but the rapture of a dream.

A vision bright that came and went,
 One flash of joy, and all was o'er;
A boon which Heaven a moment lent
 And then withdrew forevermore.

'T were vain to wish thy hours of rest
 With thoughts of one might radiant be
Who, of thy friendship still possessed,
 Through all the years remembers thee.

But may I hope, while far apart
 We are, and others win thy praise,
Thou wilt not quite forget the heart
 That bows in love to thee always.