Floods

In the dark night, from sweet refreshing sleepI wake to hear outside my window-paneThe uncurbed fury of the wild spring rain,And weird winds lashing the defiant deep,And roar of floods that gather strength and leapDown dizzy, wreck-strewn channels to the main.I turn upon my pillow and againCompose myself for slumber.Let them sweep;I once survived great floods, and do not fear,Though ominous planets congregate, and seemTo foretell strange disasters.From a dream--Ah! dear God! such a dream!--I woke to hear,Through the dense shadows lit by no star's gleam,The rush of mighty waters on my ear.Helpless, afraid, and all alone, I lay;The floods had come upon me unaware.I heard the crash of structures that were fair;The bridges of fond hopes were swept awayBy great salt waves of sorrow. In dismayI saw by the red lightning's lurid glareThat on the rock-bound island of despairI had been cast. Till the dim dawn of dayI heard my castles falling, and the rollOf angry billows bearing to the seaThe broken timbers of my very soul.Were all the pent-up waters from the wholeStupendous solar system to break free,There are no floods that now can frighten me.