The Angel

I Dreamt a Dream! what can it mean?

And that I was a maiden Queen:

Guarded by an Angel mild;

Witless woe, was ne’er beguil’d!

And I wept both night and day,

And he wip’d my tears away;

And I wept both day and night,

And hid from him my heart’s delight.

So he took his wings and fled:

Then the morn blush’d rosy red:

I dried my tears, and arm’d my fears,

With ten thousand shields and spears.

Soon my Angel came again:

I was arm’d, he came in vain:

For the time of youth was fled

And grey hairs were on my head.

William Blake (1757-1827)