Dreams

KEEP thou thy dreams–though joy should pass thee by;
 Hold to the rainbow beauty of thy thought;
It is for dreams that men will oft-times die
 And count the passing pain of death as nought.

Keep thou thy dreams, though faith should faint and fail,
 And time should loose thy fingers from the creeds,
The vision of the Christ will still avail
 To lead thee on to truth and tender deeds.

Keep thou thy dreams through all the winter's cold,
 When weeds are withered, and the garden grey,
Dream thou of roses with their hearts of gold,
 Beckon to summers that are on their way.

Keep thou thy dreams–the tissue of all wings
 Is woven first of them; from dreams are made
The precious and imperishable things
 Whose loveliness lives on, and does not fade.

Keep thou thy dreams, intangible and dear
 As the blue ether of the utmost sky–
A dream may lift thy spirit past all fear,
 And with the great may set thy feet on high.