The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti A variorum edition: Edited, with textual notes and introductions, by R. W. Crump |
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 | The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti |  |
3.
“O ombre vane, fuor che ne l'aspetto!”
—Dante.
—Dante.
“Immaginata guida la conduce.”
—Petrarca.
—Petrarca.
I dream of you to wake: would that I might
Dream of you and not wake but slumber on;
Nor find with dreams the dear companion gone,
As Summer ended Summer birds take flight.
In happy dreams I hold you full in sight,
I blush again who waking look so wan;
Brighter than sunniest day that ever shone,
In happy dreams your smile makes day of night.
Thus only in a dream we are at one,
Thus only in a dream we give and take
The faith that maketh rich who take or give;
88
To die were surely sweeter than to live,
Tho' there be nothing new beneath the sun.
| The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | |