In visions of the dark night
I have dreamed of joy departed
But a waking dream of life and light
Hath left me broken-hearted
Ah! What is not a dream by day
To him whose eyes are cast
On things around him with a ray
Turned back upon the past?
That holy dream - that holy dream
While all the world were chiding
Hath cheered me as a lovely beam
A lonely spirit guiding
What though that light, through storm and night
So trembled from afar
What could there be more purely bright
In truth's day-star?