Felicia Dorothea Hemans

* * *

I dream of all things free!
  Of a gallant, gallant bark,
That sweeps through storm and sea
  Like an arrow to its mark!
Of a stag that o'er the hills
  Goes bounding in his glee;
Of a thousand flashing rills--
  Of all things glad and free.

I dream of some proud bird,
  A bright-eyed mountain king! 
In my visions I have heard
  The rushing of his wing.
I follow some wild river,
  On whose breast no sail may be;
Dark woods around it shiver --
  I dream of all things free!

Of a happy forest child,
  With the fawns and flowers at play;
Of an Indian midst the wild,
  With the stars to guide his way:
Of a chief his warriora leading,
  Of an archer's green wood tree; --
My heart in chains is bleeding; --
  And I dream of all things free.