I Dreamed Of Forest Alleys fair

2I DREAMED of forest alleys fair

3And fields of gray-flowered grass,

4Where by the yellow summer moon

5My Jenny seemed to pass.

6I dreamed the yellow summer moon,

7Behind a cedar wood,

8Lay white on fields of rippling grass

9Where I and Jenny stood.

10I dreamed - but fallen through my dream,

11In a rainy land I lie

12Where wan wet morning crowns the hills

13Of grim reality.

14II.

15I am as one that keeps awake

16All night in the month of June,

17That lies awake in bed to watch

18The trees and great white moon.

19For memories of love are more

20Than the white moon there above,

21And dearer than quiet moonshine

22Are the thoughts of her I love.

23III.

24Last night I lingered long without

25My last of loves to see.

26Alas! the moon-white window-panes

27Stared blindly back on me.

28To-day I hold her very hand,

29Her very waist embrace -

30Like clouds across a pool, I read

31Her thoughts upon her face.

32And yet, as now, through her clear eyes

33I seek the inner shrine -

34I stoop to read her virgin heart

35In doubt if it be mine -

36O looking long and fondly thus,

37What vision should I see?

38No vision, but my own white face

39That grins and mimics me.

40IV.

41Once more upon the same old seat

42In the same sunshiny weather,

43The elm-trees' shadows at their feet

44And foliage move together.

45The shadows shift upon the grass,

46The dial point creeps on;

47The clear sun shines, the loiterers pass,

48As then they passed and shone.

49But now deep sleep is on my heart,

50Deep sleep and perfect rest.

51Hope's flutterings now disturb no more

52The quiet of my breast.