Young Love lies sleeping <br />In May-time of the year, <br />Among the lilies, <br />Lapped in the tender light: <br />White lambs come grazing, <br />White doves come building there: <br />And round about him <br />The May-bushes are white. <br /> <br />Soft moss the pillow <br />For oh, a softer cheek; <br />Broad leaves cast shadow <br />Upon the heavy eyes: <br />There wind and waters <br />Grow lulled and scarcely speak; <br />There twilight lingers <br />The longest in the skies. <br /> <br />Young Love lies dreaming; <br />But who shall tell the dream? <br />A perfect sunlight <br />On rustling forest tips; <br />Or perfect moonlight <br />Upon a rippling stream; <br />Or perfect silence, <br />Or song of cherished lips. <br /> <br />Burn odours round him <br />To fill the drowsy air; <br />Weave silent dances <br />Around him to and fro; <br />For oh, in waking <br />The sights are no so fair, <br />And song and silence <br />Are not like these below. <br /> <br />Young Love lies dreaming <br />Till summer days are gone, - <br />Dreaming and drowsing <br />Away to perfect sleep: <br />He sees the beauty <br />Sun hath not looked upon, <br />And tastes the fountain <br />Unutterably deep. <br /> <br />Him perfect music <br />Doth hush unto his rest, <br />And through the pauses <br />The perfect silence calms: <br />Oh, poor the voices <br />Of earth from east to west, <br />And poor earth's stillness <br />Between her stately palms. <br /> <br />Young Love lies drowsing <br />Away to poppied death; <br />Cool shadows deepen <br />Across the sleeping face: <br />So fails the summer <br />With warm delicious breath; <br />And what hath autumn <br />To give us in its place? <br /> <br />Draw close the curtains <br />Of branched evergreen; <br />Change cannot touch them <br />With fading fingers sere: <br />Here first the violets <br />Perhaps with bud unseen, <br />And a dove, may be, <br />Return to nestle here.<br /><br />Dante Gabriel Rossetti<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dream-love/
