A Dream Shape

By Madison Julius Cawein

Lyric Poem
    With moon-white hearts that held a gleam     I gathered wild-flowers in a dream,     And shaped a woman, whose sweet blood     Was odour of the wildwood bud.     From dew, the starlight arrowed through,     I wrought a woman's eyes of blue;     The lids that on her eyeballs lay,     Were rose-pale petals of the May.     Out of a rosebud's veins I drew     The flagrant crimson beating through     The languid lips of her, whose kiss     Was as a poppy's drowsiness.     Out of the moonlight and the air     I wrought the glory of her hair,     That o'er her eyes' blue heaven lay     Like some gold cloud o'er dawn of day.     I took the music of the breeze     And water, whispering in the trees,     And shaped the soul that breathed below     A woman's blossom breasts of snow.     A shadow's shadow in the glass     Of sleep, my spirit saw her pass:     And thinking of it now, meseems     We only live within our dreams.     For in that time she was to me     More real than our reality;     More real than Earth, more real than I     The unreal things that pass and die.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a poignant exploration of the themes of dreams, love, and ephemeral beauty. The poet employs rich and evocative imagery to craft a portrait of an idealized woman, a figure born out of the natural elements like wild-flowers, dew, starlight, and moonlight. The woman is not just a figment of the poet's dream, but a symbol of transient beauty that seems more real to him than reality itself.

The poem's tone is deeply reflective, imbued with a sense of longing, and it is structured in seven quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme. The poet skillfully utilizes various literary devices such as simile ("Like some gold cloud o'er dawn of day") and personification ("The flagrant crimson beating through"). The repetition of the verb 'wrought' implies the painstaking effort made by the poet to create this vision. The final stanza's assertion that "we only live within our dreams", coupled with the contrast between "unreal things that pass and die" and the dreamt woman who was "more real" to the poet, suggests the blurring line between dream and reality, underscoring the poem's central thesis about the power and supremacy of our inner, emotional world.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.

Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.