A Summer Dream

There was a man who through long winter days
Walked sadly, without hope, until the spring
Came back to make the whole world shine and sing;
And then he found one day a gracious place
Girt round with trees; while over waving ways
Of deep green grass the gusty winds did bring
Soft, subtle scents of sweet flowers blossoming,
With sound of wild birds singing face to face.

There he lay down, and dream'd a dream most fair,
And, as he slept, through all his dream he felt
The golden beauty of the summer melt.
How long he slept he knew not, till one day
He woke, and, when his long sleep ebbed away,
Rose up and shivered in gray winter air.