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