Come When I Sleep
by
(“Oh, quand je dors.”)
[XXVII.]
Oh! when I sleep, come near my resting-place,
As Laura came to bless her poet’s heart,
And let thy breath in passing touch my face–
At once a space
My lips will part.
And on my brow where too long weighed supreme
A vision–haply spent now–black as night,
Let thy look as a star arise and beam–
At once my dream
Will seem of light.
Then press my lips, where plays a flame of bliss–
A pure and holy love-light–and forsake
The angel for the woman in a kiss–
At once, I wis,
My soul will wake!
Translated by: WM. W. TOMLINSON.