To Sleep by Olive Tilford Dargan
The poem explores themes of weariness, longing for peace, and the desire for escape from the burdens of life. The speaker personifies sleep as a silent lover, a comforting presence that offers solace from the struggles and pains of existence. The imagery evokes a sense of exhaustion, with references to a world that is "day-worn" and individuals who are "sun-hurt and torn." The speaker expresses a yearning to be enveloped by sleep, seeking refuge in its oblivion, where hopes and pains are silenced. There is a desire for a deep, dreamless state, free from the turmoil of life. The notion of being a captive to sleep suggests a surrender to this comforting force, highlighting the contrast between the harsh realities of life and the tranquility that sleep promises. As the poem progresses, the speaker contemplates the nature of awakening. They wish to be freed not through the passage of time, which brings the inevitability of life’s struggles, but rather to an eternal state of peace. This desire for a transition from sleep to death is portrayed as a gentle passage, akin to moving from one friend to another, emphasizing a serene acceptance of mortality. Overall, the work encapsulates a profound meditation on the relationship between sleep, death, and the human experience, reflecting a deep yearning for tranquility amidst life's chaos.
By Olive Tilford Dargan · First published 1931 · Genre: Poetry, Lyrical, Romanticism · 172 words
First lines
O silent lover of a world day-worn, Taking the weary light to thy dusk arms, Stealing where pale forms lie, sun-hurt and torn, Waiting the balm of thy oblivious charms, Make me thy captive ere I guess pursuit, And cast me deep within some dreamless close, Where hopes stir not, and white, wronged lips are mute, And Pain's hot wings fold down o'er hushed woes. And if ere morn thou choosest me to free, Let it not be, dear jailer, through the door That timeward opes, but to eternity Set thou the soul that needs thee nevermore; So I from sleep to death may softly wend As one would pass from gentle friend to friend.
What this Textopian page supports
To Sleep is listed on Textopian as a poem by Olive Tilford Dargan, dated 1931 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Olive Tilford Dargan
- Date: 1931 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyrical, Romanticism, Existentialism, Symbolism
- Length: 172 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Lyrical — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyrical poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of nature, emotion, and the sublime are prevalent, aligning with Romantic ideals.
- Existentialism — Explores themes of existence, death, and the search for meaning.
Tags
Poetry · Sleep · Dreams · Nightmare · Psychological · Emotional · Inner Turmoil · Conflict · Mental Health · Anxiety · Fear · Loss