# A Dream Song explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/a-dream-song
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters