I Love Poetry

A Dream Within A Dream ~by Edgar Allan Poe

By: thatguy1970

Written on June 8th, 2012

My favorite by Poe.

A Dream Within A Dream

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream:
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand--
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep
While I weep--while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

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By: thatguy1970

Age: 41-45 , Male

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30 responses

lexuslourve

I love this poem....thanks for sharing..:)

Jun 17, 2012
2 likes
- thatguy1970
  You are welcome.
  
  Jun 18, 2012
  1 like
play14

love it *thumbs up*

Jun 12, 2012
2 likes
CMA1234

That poem is also my favorite by Poe

Jun 9, 2012
2 likes
- thatguy1970
  It seems to attract many people.
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
- CMA1234
  I think it is because you are never sure if it is a dream or reality
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
- thatguy1970
  The beauty of the poem is, in the first stanza, it is suggested that life is a dream, but Poe suggests to the "enlightened" ones that may think that, he is willing to take it further, maybe the dream people think life is actually, itself a dream... or, a dream within a dream. It's complex and deep. He was quite brilliant.
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
- thatguy1970
  Forgive my run-on sentence. I am exhausted. lol
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
1 More Reply
LelainaTroy

Mmm..great poets like Poe just do not exist anymore...or so it seems...

Thanks for sharing!

Jun 9, 2012
2 likes
- thatguy1970
  I know what you mean, lilMinx. But, I don't think Poe was well regarded in his day. It took awhile before he was appreciated. Maybe we can't recognize the talent before us just now.
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
- LelainaTroy
  Maybe!...
  
  Jun 10, 2012
  1 like
LG76

fell in love with Poe's work in high school...thanks for sharing :)

Jun 9, 2012
2 likes
- thatguy1970
  I began reading Poe in HS too. You are welcome. :)
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
PrincessTwisted

I've never read that poem before, but I am very glad that I now have. Thank you for sharing it.

Jun 9, 2012
2 likes
- thatguy1970
  You are welcome. It always makes me happy to know i have shared something that someone might not have otherwise read. :)
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
PercyJ

Well I never - I always thought this was written by a band called propaganda - Thanks for educating me :-)

here is the poem put to some cool music .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FIUuPUEacc

Jun 9, 2012
3 likes
- thatguy1970
  160 years later, Poe is still influencing people with his writing. I enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing the link!
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
paco35

I agree. I have loved this poem from my earlier years. This poem of his in particular. I still have the original book of his collected works. Although he referred to the loss of loved ones to TB in this poem, it maintains the unique quality of meaning so much to so many people.

Jun 9, 2012
3 likes
- thatguy1970
  Hi Paco. Good to know you are a Poe fan. I agree that poems, including this one, may mean different things to different people. This poem, in particular. In fact, most of Poe's poems are like that to me. I can't say that I can completely understand Poe's mind when he wrote so I do the best I can to interpret him based on how I see things. Good post.
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
Thatguy1970sDreamgirl

I love Poe, this one of my favorites too. A few of his writings are a part of the English curriculum in our high school. I love that he is included because the students enjoy him. They also realize that poetry can be meaningful and captivating. Great post honey :)

Jun 9, 2012
4 likes
- thatguy1970
  Poe is usually too dark for my taste, but this one hits on a theme which I see in my own life which is the quiet torment of waiting for fate to takes it's course and recognizing our own futility if we try to stop fate. The sand running through his fingers and his anguish..
  "And I hold within my hand
  Grains of the golden sand--
  How few! yet how they creep
  Through my fingers to the deep
  While I weep--while I weep!"
  Poe! He's an amazing writer full of passion, albeit, a little dark. :)
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
- sierra33
  Sometimes the dark characteristics of some writing seems to really sort of highlight the deeper wisdom and meanings within it. I think that might be what's going on with this poem....
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
- Thatguy1970sDreamgirl
  Yes, there is a darkness and I think that is why the kids will read him. They have this idea ingrained in their minds that poetry is all "hearts and flowers" so to speak.
  On the subject of fate? You and I have discussed this so much lately and I know what you are feeling...but, I will finish my thoughts in a pm.
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
- thatguy1970
  Sie, I agree about the dark writing highlighting something deeper. Underneath it is an awesome writer full of passion.
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
- thatguy1970
  Interesting perspective on how the kids see Poe. I think you are right. I was drawn to Poe's writing early in high school. I remember reading "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Pit and the Pendulum" and have been a Poe fan ever since. You're so wise. ;))
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
- Thatguy1970sDreamgirl
  Thank you sweetie..."The Pit and the Pendulum" is read as well as "The Raven", " Eleonora", and "The Tell Tale Heart."
  Most kids enjoy them, but I have had a couple find them disturbing .
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
3 More Replies
sierra33

I remember this one! I like it too.....It says so much more then just what the words convey...

Jun 9, 2012
2 likes
- thatguy1970
  Exactly right, Sie. Take a look at my reply to Dreamgirl below... I love that Poe says so much and he says it passionately. :)
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like
jenvice

Love this poem.

Jun 8, 2012
2 likes
- thatguy1970
  It's one of his best.
  
  Jun 9, 2012
  1 like

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