A Dream Song

I dreamed of a song--I heard it sung;         In the ear of my soul its strange notes rung.         What were its words I could not tell,         Only the voice I heard right well,         For its tones unearthly my spirit bound         In a calm delirium of mystic sound--         Held me floating, alone and high,         Placeless and silent, drinking my fill         Of dews that from cloudless skies distil         On desert places that thirst and sigh.         'Twas a woman's voice, deep calling to deep,         Rousing old echoes that all day sleep         In cavern and solitude, each apart,         Here and there in the waiting heart;--         A voice with a wild melodious cry         Reaching and longing afar and high.         Sorrowful triumph, and hopeful strife,         Gainful death, and new-born life,         Thrilled in each note of the prophet-song.         In my heart it said: O Lord, how long         Shall we groan and travail and faint and pray,         Ere thy lovely kingdom bring the day!     1842.