A Constancy of Sleep
By George Sterling
Last night the sea put forth its utmost sigh,
Making my soul aware of final things;
And taking swift a dream-wind's mystic wings,
I seemed to pass to regions of the sky
That dome Areadia and the bowers therby,
Wherein I saw the visions Homer sings.
And nymphs abandoned to their wreathéd kings:
All these I saw, and saw them but to fly.
And fled, I cast their memory afar.
True to that Heaven whereof thou livest star—
Oh! star and wonder of what deeps of dream!
The murmur of the gods was in mine ears
Like music's sorrow from immortal years,
But past their bliss I saw thy features gleam.
Carmel.