Wherefore?

Wherefore in dreams are sorrows borne anew,          A healed wound opened, or the past revived?              Last night in my deep sleep I dreamed of you;          Again the old love woke in me, and thrived              On looks of fire, and kisses, and sweet words          Like silver waters purling in a stream,              Or like the amorous melodies of birds:         A dream - a dream!              Again upon the glory of the scene          There settled that dread shadow of the cross              That, when hearts love too well, falls in between;          That warns them of impending woe and loss.              Again I saw you drifting from my life,          As barques are rudely parted in a stream;              Again my heart was torn with awful strife:         A dream - a dream!              Again the deep night settled on me there,          Alone I groped, and heard strange waters roll,              Lost in that blackness of supreme despair          That comes but once to any living soul.              Alone, afraid, I called your name aloud -          Mine eyes, unveiled, beheld white stars agleam,              And lo! awake, I cried, "Thank God, thank God!         A dream - a dream!"