Spirit of

By Madison Julius Cawein

Where hast thou folded thy pinions,

Spirit of Dreams?

Hidden elusive garments

Woven of gleams?

In what divine dominions,

Brighter than day,

Far from the world's dark torments,

Dost thou stay, dost thou stay?—

When shall my yearnings reach thee

Again?

Not in vain let my soul beseech thee!

Not in vain! not in vain!

I have longed for thee as a lover

For her, the one;

As a brother for a sister

Long dead and gone.

I have called thee over and over

Names sweet to hear;

With words than music trister,

And thrice as dear.

How long must my sad heart woo thee,

Yet fail?

How long must my soul pursue thee,

Nor avail, nor avail?

All night hath thy loving mother,

Beautiful Sleep,

Lying beside me, listened

And heard me weep.

But ever thou soughtest another

Who sought thee not;

For him thy soft smile glistened —

I was forgot.

When shall my soul behold thee

As before?

When shall my heart infold thee?—

Nevermore? nevermore?