A Dream

Once a dream did weave a shade O'er my Angel-guarded bed That an Emmet lost its way Where on grass methought I lay Troubled, 'wilder'd, and forlorn Dark, benighted, travel-worn Over many a tangled spray All heart-broken I heard her say O, my children! do they cry? Do they hear their father sigh? Now they look abroad to see Now return and weep for me Pitying, I drop'd a tear But I saw a glow-worm near Who replied: ``What wailing wight Calls the watchman of the night? I am set to light the ground While the beetle goes his round Follow now the beetle's hum Little wanderer, hie thee home Can I see another's woe And not be in sorrow too? Can I see another's grief And not seek for kind relief? Can I see a falling tear And not feel my sorrow's share? Can a father see his child Weep, nor be with sorrow fill'd? Can a mother sit and hear An infant groan an infant fear? No, no! never can it be! Never, never can it be! And can he who smiles on all Hear the wren with sorrows small Hear the small bird's grief & care Hear the woes that infants bear And not sit beside the nest Pouring pity in their breast And not sit the cradle near Weeping tear on infant's tear And not sit both night & day Wiping all our tears away? O, no! never can it be! Never, never can it be! He doth give his joy to all He becomes an infant small He becomes a man of woe He doth feel the sorrow too Think not thou canst sigh a sigh And thy maker is not by Think not thou canst weep a tear And thy maker is not near