Poem by John Donne

The Dream

DEAR love, for nothing less than thee
Would I have broke this happy dream ;
                It was a theme
For reason, much too strong for fantasy.
Therefore thou waked'st me wisely ; yet
My dream thou brokest not, but continued'st it.
Thou art so true that thoughts of thee suffice
To make dreams truths, and fables histories ;
Enter these arms, for since thou thought'st it best,
Not to dream all my dream, let's act the rest.

As lightning, or a taper's light,
Thine eyes, and not thy noise waked me ;
                Yet I thought thee
—For thou lovest truth—an angel, at first sight ;
But when I saw thou saw'st my heart,
And knew'st my thoughts beyond an angel's art,
When thou knew'st what I dreamt, when thou knew'st when
Excess of joy would wake me, and camest then,
I must confess, it could not choose but be
Profane, to think thee any thing but thee.

Coming and staying show'd thee, thee,
But rising makes me doubt, that now
                Thou art not thou.
That love is weak where fear's as strong as he ;
'Tis not all spirit, pure and brave,
If mixture it of fear, shame, honour have ;
Perchance as torches, which must ready be,
Men light and put out, so thou deal'st with me ;
Thou camest to kindle, go'st to come ; then I
Will dream that hope again, but else would die.

1. Holy Sonnet 12. Why are we by all creatures waited on?
2. Holy Sonnet 15. Wilt thou love God as he thee? then digest
3. Holy Sonnet 9. If poisonous minerals, and if that tree
4. Holy Sonnet 18. Show me, dear Christ, thy spouse so bright and clear
5. Holy Sonnet 5. I am a little world made cunningly

Amy Levy The Dream ("Believe me, this was true last night")

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