DREAMS

By John Drinkwater

We have our dreams; not happiness.

Great cities are upon the hill

To lighten all our dream, and still

We have no cities to possess

But cities built of bitterness.

We see gay fellows top to toe,

And girls in rainbow beauty bright —

’ Tis but of silly dreams I write,

For up and down the streets we know,

The scavengers and harlots go.

Give me a dozen men whose theme

Is honesty, and we will set

On high the banner of dreams... and yet

Thousands will pass us in a stream,

Nor care a penny what we dream.