Poverty

I HAD a dream of Poverty by night,
And saw the holy palmer wending by
With pensive mien and radiant upturned eye,
Drinking the tender moon's approving light.
I saw her take the hills and climb the height,
While broad below the city murmured nigh,
Spangling the dust with lamps of revelry
That made the mellow planets pale to sight.
Yet kept my love her face toward the stars
Till broke the dawn against the mountain ridge
And angels met her on the misty way ;
Then heaven looked forth on her through golden bars,
Then gleamed her feet along a rosy bridge,
Then passed she noiseless into eternal day.