<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The Dream-path</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">WALKING my dream-paved road on the Hill of Desire</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I saw beneath me the City of Quiet Delight;</p><p class="line">The warming rays from each home-welcoming fire</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Wove a pattern of gold on the velvet curtain of night.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The scent from the hill's rank grass put desire in my soul</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To attain to the City below in the Valley of Hope,</p><p class="line">But my grey path led beyond the horizon's roll.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Binding my feet in the web of a dream-made rope.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Reluctant, I followed the path, where I knew was Pain,</p><p class="line">The distance glared with a furnace glow in the sky.</p><p class="line">And the voice of the sea and the splashing of tropic rain</p><p class="line">Were the hiss of the steam from untaught Machinery.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">My dream-path led through the Furnace, and Pain, and Fire—</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I could not stay nor turn from the road in flight—</p><p class="line">But I knew it would lead me back past the Hill of Desire</p><p class="line">To the warm hearth-stones in the City of Quiet Delight.</p></div></body></html> · Great War