“Tick tock”, chides the clock
Keeping time for key and lock
As slowly they turn to rust and rock
The seconds linger
Like a finger
On a lover's lock
O God! Can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But A Dream Within a Dream?
Let those not leave
Who's heart would grieve
Nor mind and word reprieve
Without and to that hallowed company
But let them stand
Upon my hand
And for the life of me
For as I sit and solemn write
Their spirits to my page alight
And turn into the truth of mind
So slowly as the chimes unwind
But let the players fall, perchance
Where pity still may cast a glance
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
Let what we see or seem to lend
Be but a dream in heart of pen
For though I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
I may send the wind or surf
To give some other child birth
And by so, change its current course
To fight the future's cold remorse
To Shadows, which upon me lie
By foresight of Heaven's Eye
And should the ink begin to seep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
Let you still this promise keep
Take this Kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow
I shall return to find you here
In a day, or in a year
And you shall wait; a patient sage
Enwrapped and bound in ev'ry page
And your mind shall then be taught
That all breath and life is naught
For all we see and all we seem
Is but a dream within a dream