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Emily Jane Brontë: The Complete Poems

Edited by Janet Gezari
Brontë, Emily (1818-1848)
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expand sectionI. 
I. Poems Published in 1846
collapse sectionII. 
II. Dated Poems
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23. A. G. A. to A. E.
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27. Lines
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32. To a Wreath of Snow
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33. Song by Julius Angora
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46. Song to A. A.
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48. A. G. A. to A. S.
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49. Gleneden's Dream
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61. Douglas's Ride
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66. Song by Julius Brenzaida
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67. Song by J. Brenzaida to G. S.
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71. F. De Samara to A. G. A.
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82. Song
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84. To the Blue Bell
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87. Lines by Claudia
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89. Written on Returning to the P. of I. on the 10th of January 1827
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92. A Farewell to Alexandria
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112. Written in the Gaaldine Prison Caves to A. G. A.
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118. The Night-Wind
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125. Geraldine
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126. Rosina
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127. A. S. to G. S.
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128. H. A. and A. S.
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129. Written in Aspin Castle
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131. On the Fall of Zalona
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133. To A. S. 1830
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134. E. G. to M. R.
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136. To A. G. A.
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140. Rodric Lesley. 1830
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142. M. G. for the U. S.
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143. At Castle Wood
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148. The Death of A. G. A.
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154. From a Dungeon Wall in the Southern College
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162. A. E. and R. C.
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164. M. A. Written on the Dungeon Wall—N. C.
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165. Julian M. and A. G. Rochelle
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expand sectionIII. 
III. Undated Poems
expand sectionIV. 
IV. Poems of Doubtful Authorship

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14.

[O God of heaven! the dream of horror]

O God of heaven! the dream of horror
The frightful dream is over now
The sickened heart the blasting sorrow
The ghastly night the ghastlier morrow
The aching sense of utter woe.
The burning tears that would keep welling
The groans that mocked at every tear
That burst from out their dreary dwelling
As if each gasp were life expelling
But life was nourished by despair
The tossing and the anguished pining
The grinding teeth and staring eye
The agony of still repining
When not a spark of hope was shining
From gloomy fate's relentless sky
The impatient rage the useless shrinking
From thoughts that yet could not be borne
The soul that was for ever thinking
Till nature maddened tortured sinking
At last refused to mourn—
It's over now—and I am free
And the ocean wind is caressing me
The wild wind from that wavy main
I never thought to see again
44

Bless thee Bright Sea—and glorious dome
And my own world my spirit's home
Bless thee—Bless all—I can not speak
My voice is choked, but not with grief
And salt drops from my haggard cheek
Descend like rain upon the heath
How long they've wet a dungeon floor—
Falling on flag-stones damp and grey
I used to weep even in my sleep
The night was dreadful like the day
I used to weep when winter's snow
Whirled through the grating stormily
But then it was a calmer woe
For every thing was drear as me
The bitterest time the worst of all
Was that in which the summer sheen
Cast a green lustre on the wall
That told of Fields of lovelier green
Often I've sat down on the ground
Gazing up to that flush scarce seen
Till heedless of the darkness round
My soul has sought a land serene
It sought the arch of heaven divine
The pure blue heaven with clouds of gold
It sought thy Father's home and mine
As I remembered it of old
O even now too horribly
Come back the feelings that would swell
When with my face hid on my knee
I strove the bursting groans to quell
I flung myself upon the stone
I howled and tore my tangled hair
And then when the first gush had flown
Lay in unspeakable despair
45

Sometimes a curse sometimes a prayer
Would quiver on my parched tongue
But both without a murmur there
Died in the breast from whence they sprung
And so the day would fade on high
And darkness quench that lonely beam
And slumber mould my misery
Into some strange and spectral dream
Whose phantom horrors made me know
The worst extent of human woe—
But this is past and why return
O'er such a past to brood and mourn?
Shake off the fetters break the chain
And live and love and smile again
The waste of youth the waste of years
Departed in that dungeon's thrall
The gnawing grief the hopeless tears
Forget them—O forget them all—
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