Poetry · Chapter
A Dream Song explained
The narrator describes a dream in which they hear a mysterious, unearthly song sung by a woman's voice.
What happens
The narrator describes a dream in which they hear a mysterious, unearthly song sung by a woman's voice. The song evokes a blend of sorrow and hope, longing and triumph, and ends with a prayerful cry for the coming of God's kingdom.
Themes in this chapter
Spiritual Struggle and Doubt
The song expresses a yearning for divine deliverance and the pain of waiting for God's kingdom.
Longing for Immortality
The dream song's 'prophet-song' conveys a hope for new-born life and triumph over death.
Redemption and Grace
The closing plea for the 'lovely kingdom' reflects a desire for redemption and the arrival of grace.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The dreamer who hears the song and reflects on its spiritual impact.
- VI The Woman
The voice singing the dream song, described as a woman's voice with a wild melodious cry.
- God
Addressed in the closing prayer: 'O Lord, how long... ere thy lovely kingdom bring the day!'
Key passages
“I dreamed of a song—I heard it sung; In the ear of my soul its strange notes rung.”
I dreamt of a song that was sung directly into my soul.
The narrator emphasizes the spiritual, internal nature of the experience.
“Sorrowful triumph, and hopeful strife, Gainful death, and new-born life, Thrilled in each note of the prophet-song.”
Each note of the prophetic song was filled with a mix of sorrowful victory, hopeful struggle, profitable death, and renewed life.
The song encapsulates paradoxical emotions of suffering and hope.
“In my heart it said: O Lord, how long Shall we groan and travail and faint and pray, Ere thy lovely kingdom bring the day!”
The song spoke to my heart, asking God how long humanity must suffer and pray before His beautiful kingdom arrives.
The climax of the poem is a prayer for the coming of God's kingdom.