Dreams

Dreams

Original Text
Collected Sonnets Old and New (London: C. Kegan Paul & Co., 1880) : 154. PR 5699 T7 Robarts Library
1Most dreams are like the tide upon the beach
2Rolling the baseless pebbles, till their place
3Is changed and changed again, beyond the reach
4Of the best waking memory to retrace
5The loose and helpless motion; these, and those
6That stand like rocks, engraved with name and date,
7And cognizable words of coming fate,
9What means this double power to rave and teach?
10This common fund of toys and verities?
11Of dooming oracles and foolish cries?
12Now kept apart, now blending each with each --
13Abortive interests, and unreal ties,

Notes

8] schoolmen: scholars, teachers. Back to Line
14] impeach: discredit. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2004
Form