The Dream by Madison Cawein (1904)
The work presents a vivid dreamscape characterized by a surreal, tropical afternoon illuminated by a full moon. The setting is a tranquil, ethereal realm devoid of sunlight, filled with expansive skies and clouds that rain colors, suggesting a mystical beauty. The landscape features lush orchards bearing ripe fruits, symbolizing abundance and sensuality, alongside rolling hills with streams that sparkle like silver. The atmosphere is infused with a strange, intoxicating music that evokes deep emotions, drawing forth images of ethereal beings adorned with star-like flowers. This music resonates with the natural world, blending the sounds of bees and the surf of distant seas, creating a tapestry of sensory experiences. The dream reflects themes of beauty, desire, and the longing for connection, encapsulating a sense of unfulfilled yearning and the bittersweet nature of love. The imagery is rich and layered, inviting contemplation of the interplay between nature, dreams, and human emotions.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1904 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Imagism · 419 words
First lines
/ My dream was such: / It seemed the afternoon / Of some deep tropic day, and yet a moon / Stood round and full with largeness of white gleams / High in a Heaven that knew not a sun's beams; / A vast, still Heaven of unremembered dreams. / Long, lawny lengths of perishable cloud / Hung in a West o'er rolling forests bowed; / Clouds raining colors, gold and violet / That, opening, seemed from hidden worlds to let / Down hints of mystic beauty and old charms / Wrought of frail creatures fair with silvery forms. / And all about me fruited orchards grew / Of quince and peach and dusty plums of blue; / Wan apricots and apples red with fire, / Kissed into ripeness by some sun's desire, / And big with juice; and on far, fading hills, / Down which it seemed a hundred torrent rills / Flashed leaping silver, vines and vines and vines / Of purple vintage swollen with cool wines; / Pale pleasant wines and fragrant as the June, / Their delicate life robbed from the foam-fair moon.
What this Textopian page supports
The Dream is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Madison Cawein
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Imagism, Symbolism, Fantasy
- Length: 419 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Dream by Madison Cawein
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
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- In The Firelight by W. B. Yeats
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- The Garden Of Dreams by Madison Cawein
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- Visions by Madison Cawein
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem's focus on personal emotions and vivid imagery aligns it closely with the characteristics of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of nature, beauty, and emotional depth reflect the ideals of the Romantic movement.
- Imagism — The use of precise imagery and sensory details is indicative of Imagist poetry.
- Symbolism — The poem employs symbols to convey deeper meanings and evoke emotions.
Tags
Poetry · Dreams · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor · Personification · Nature · Mystery · Fantasy · Romance · Emotion · Psychology