I Would We Had Not Met Again

I would we had not met again!
I had a dream of thee,
Lovely, though sad, on desert-plain--
Mournful on midnight sea.

What though it haunted me by night,
And troubled through the day?
It touch’d all earth with spirit-light,
It glorified my way!

Oh! what shall now my faith restore
In holy things and fair?
We met--I saw thy soul once more--
The world’s breath had been there!

Yes! it was sad on desert-plain,
Mournful on midnight sea;
Yet would I buy with life again
That one deep dream of thee!