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A Dream by Edgar Allan Poe   
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Edgar Allan Poe
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Edgar Allan Poe
(January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849 / Boston)
91 poems of Edgar Allan Poe
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  A Dream

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8.1 /10
(218 votes)



  In visions of the dark night
I have dreamed of joy departed-
But a waking dream of life and light
Hath left me broken-hearted.

Ah! what is not a dream by day
To him whose eyes are cast
On things around him with a ray
Turned back upon the past?

That holy dream- that holy dream,
While all the world were chiding,
Hath cheered me as a lovely beam
A lonely spirit guiding.

What though that light, thro' storm and night,
So trembled from afar-
What could there be more purely bright
In Truth's day-star?


Edgar Allan Poe

Submitted Date Tuesday, December 31, 2002



Read poems about / on: dream, lonely, star, truth, joy, light, dark, night, world, life

Poems by Edgar Allan Poe : 1 / 68 next poem >>
 
  Comments about this poem (A Dream by Edgar Allan Poe )
 
Bob Harris (12/25/2011 1:38:00 AM)
2 person liked.
5 person did not like.
To me, it is a sad poem of one who dreams at night of past joy but by light of day neither sees nor foresees love.
Riekairu Calo (11/29/2009 9:50:00 AM)
2 person liked.
5 person did not like.
ooohhh myyy goood....its excellent...
Narayana Santhanam (6/2/2009 11:22:00 PM)
3 person liked.
5 person did not like.
Poe reveals that he has been numbed by pain in his life-to the effect that he feels he is in a state between waking and sleeping ('waking dream of life and light hath left me broken hearted') .

But it isn't just pain. There was something good in his past. He explains that in addition, he chooses to focus on whatever was good in the past (he later refers to this as 'that holy dream', 'lovely beam', 'light trembled from afar') . To the extent that he relegates his real life to the reality level of a dream ('What is not a dream by day') .

He acknowledges this fixation on the past might just be a dim flicker of hope (light trembled from afar) for his current state (thro' storm and night) . But then, it is what cheered him (third stanza) -and more importantly, it is the only thing with him (lonely spirit guiding) -he concludes by asking what else might have possibly helped him more?

The last line is a statement of hope, hiding a note of desperation (there is no help Poe can think of, other than his memories) .
Gaurav Gupta (5/27/2009 10:55:00 AM)
4 person liked.
3 person did not like.
Its a very interesting poem that describes a man who is in search of happiness and how does he get that happiness is also described in the poem. I think it is a poem mainly based on the poet that is Edgar Allan Poe because if you have read his biography who would firstly notice that his life was full of sorrow and disaster. I love this poem because it tells us that if there is sorrow in your heart you should not be afraid of anything, you should face that situation and come out with happin ess as your trophy. So, where there is a will there is a way.
Bradley Little (2/8/2009 5:47:00 PM)
2 person liked.
4 person did not like.
he is my favorite poet and i write in the same style as he did I love this poem
Chad Campbell (11/13/2008 4:43:00 PM)
2 person liked.
4 person did not like.
Edgar Allan Poe is the best poet in my opinion.May you rest in peace my friend.
Sakura Tomoko (8/10/2008 6:46:00 PM)
3 person liked.
4 person did not like.
Rest in peace Edgar, your sorrow be lifted at the mortal coils front.
C. P. Sharma (6/4/2008 5:11:00 AM)
4 person liked.
4 person did not like.
Your poetic genius is undeniable. You are right. If we get clung to the past blues, the present and the future remain neglected and dark. We can see light and be successful in life onle if we learn lessons fron the past and act in the living present. I sum up as follows:

We wander between night and day,
At the other end there is a ray;
Past might have gone wrong way,
In the present you make hay.

From the past you can take clues,
You can overcome your blues,
Turn your back to the past blues,
Paint your future in colorful hues.
Joelstine Gonzaga (12/27/2007 9:21:00 PM)
1 person liked.
6 person did not like.
I agree with Bella.I love edger and all his poems.But the one i love most is the raven.That one leaves my speechless.
Bella Norton (9/20/2007 5:44:00 PM)
4 person liked.
3 person did not like.
Edgar Allan Poe is an exquisite poet & writer. This poem proves my point. This man was an emotional & extremely educated man. I hate hearing people call him crazy or insane because some of his poems may be a little dreary, but in my opinion, Edgar Allan Poe is definately one of the most creative & greatest poets in history. Love this poem.
 

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