Page:Poems Craik.djvu/108

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90
ONLY A DREAM.
ONLY A DREAM.
"I waked—she fled: and day brought back my night."

METHOUGHT I saw thee yesternight
Sit by me in the olden guise,
The white robes and the palm foregone?
Weaving instead of amaranth crown
A web of mortal dyes.

I cried, " Where hast thou been so long?"
(The mild eyes turned and mutely smiled:)
"Why dwellest thou in far-off lands?
What is that web within thy hands?
—"I work for thee, my child."

I clasped thee in my arms and wept;
I kissed thee oft with passion wild:
I poured fond questions, tender blame;
Still thy sole answer was the same,—
"I work for thee, my child."

"Come and walk with me as of old."
Then earnest thou, silent as before;
We passed along that churchyard way
We used to tread each Sabbath day,
Till one trod earth no more.