Dreamers and Other Poems

<p><SPAN name="THE_AWAKENING" id="THE_AWAKENING"></SPAN>THE AWAKENING</p> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">When the white dawn comes</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">I shall kneel to welcome it;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">The dread that darkened on my eyes</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Shall vanish and be gone.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">I shall look upon it</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">As the parched on fountains,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>Yet it was the blinding night</i></span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><i>That taught the joy of dawn.</i></span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">When the first bird sings,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, I shall hear rejoicing,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And all my life shall thrill to it</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">And all my heart draw near.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">I shall lean to listen</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Lest a note elude me,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>Yet it was the fearsome night</i></span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><i>That taught me how to hear.</i></span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">When the sun comes up</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">I shall lift my arms to it;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">The fear of fear shall fall from me</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">As shackles from a slave.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">I shall run to hail it,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Free and unbewildered,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>Yet it was the silent night</i></span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><i>That taught me to be brave.</i></span><br/> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />