The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter With an Introduction by Charles Dickens |
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PICTURES IN THE FIRE. |
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 | The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter |  |
PICTURES IN THE FIRE.
What is it you ask me, darling?
All my stories, child, you know;
I have no strange dreams to tell you
Pictures I have none to show.
All my stories, child, you know;
I have no strange dreams to tell you
Pictures I have none to show.
Tell you glorious scenes of travel?
Nay, my child, that cannot be,
I have seen no foreign countries,
Marvels none on land or sea.
Nay, my child, that cannot be,
I have seen no foreign countries,
Marvels none on land or sea.
Yet strange sights in truth I witness,
And I gaze until I tire;
Wondrous pictures, changing ever
As I look into the fire.
And I gaze until I tire;
Wondrous pictures, changing ever
As I look into the fire.
There, last night, I saw a cavern,
Black as pitch; within it lay
Coiled in many folds a dragon,
Glaring as if turned at bay.
Black as pitch; within it lay
Coiled in many folds a dragon,
Glaring as if turned at bay.
And a knight in dismal armour
On a wingèd eagle came,
To do battle with this dragon;
And his crest was all of flame.
On a wingèd eagle came,
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And his crest was all of flame.
As I gazed the dragon faded,
And, instead, sate Pluto crowned,
By a lake of burning fire;
Spirits dark were crouching round
And, instead, sate Pluto crowned,
By a lake of burning fire;
Spirits dark were crouching round
That was gone, and lo! before me,
A cathedral vast and grim;
I could almost hear the organ
Peal along the arches dim.
A cathedral vast and grim;
I could almost hear the organ
Peal along the arches dim.
As I watched the wreathèd pillars,
Groves of stately palms arose.
And a group of swarthy Indians
Stealing on some sleeping foes.
Groves of stately palms arose.
And a group of swarthy Indians
Stealing on some sleeping foes.
Stay; a cataract glancing brightly,
Dashed and sparkled; and beside
Lay a broken marble monster,
Mouth and eyes were staring wide.
Dashed and sparkled; and beside
Lay a broken marble monster,
Mouth and eyes were staring wide.
Then I saw a maiden wreathing
Starry flowers in garlands sweet;
Did she see the fiery serpent
That was wrapped about her feet?
Starry flowers in garlands sweet;
Did she see the fiery serpent
That was wrapped about her feet?
That fell crashing all and vanished;
And I saw two armies close—
I could almost hear the clarions,
And the shouting of the foes.
And I saw two armies close—
I could almost hear the clarions,
And the shouting of the foes.
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They were gone; and lo! bright angels
On a barren mountain wild,
Raised appealing arms to Heaven,
Bearing up a little child.
On a barren mountain wild,
Raised appealing arms to Heaven,
Bearing up a little child.
And I gazed, and gazed, and slowly
Gathered in my eyes sad tears,
And the fiery pictures bore me
Back through distant dreams of years.
Gathered in my eyes sad tears,
And the fiery pictures bore me
Back through distant dreams of years.
Once again I tasted sorrow,
With past joy was once more gay,
Till the shade had gathered round me—
And the fire had died away.
With past joy was once more gay,
Till the shade had gathered round me—
And the fire had died away.
| The Complete Works of Adelaide A. Procter | |