Lalla Ruk

Dearest dream, my soul's enchantment
    Lovely guest from heav'n above,
Most benevolent attender
    To the earthly realm below,
You gave me blissful satisfaction
    Momentary but complete:
Bringing with you happy tidings -
    Like a herald from the skies.

I dreamed dreams of life eternal
    In that Promised Land of peace;
I dreamed dreams of fragrant regions,
    Of a tranquil, sweet Kashmir;
I could witness celebrations,
    Festivals of roses vernal
Honoring that lovely maiden
    From lands strange and far away.

And, with glistening enchantment
    Like an angel from above, -
This untainted, youthful vision
    Came before my dreaming eyes;
Like a veil, a shining shroud
    Screened her lovely face from view,
Tenderly she did incline
    Her shy gazes toward the earth.

All her traits - her timid shyness
    Underneath her shining crown,
Childlike her animation,
    And her face's noble beauty -
Glowing with a depth of feeling,
    Sweet serenity and peace -
All of these completely artless
    Indescribably sublime!

As I watched, the apparition
    (Captivating me in passing)
Never to return, flew by;
    I pursued - but it had gone!
T'was a vision merely fleeting,
    Transient illumination
Leaving nothing but a legend
    Of its passing through my life!

T'is not ours to harbor
    Beauty's spirit - Ah, so pure!
It comes nigh but for a moment
    From its heavenly abode;
Like a dream, it slips away,
    Like an airy dream of morning:
But in sacred reminiscence
    It is married with the heart!

Only in the purest instants
    Of our life does it appear
Bringing with it revelations
    Beneficial to our hearts;
That our hearts may know of heaven
    In this earthly shadow realm,
It allows us momentary
    Glimpses through the earthly veil.

And through all that here is lovely,
    All that animates our lives,
To our souls it speaks a language
    Reassuring and distinct;
When it quits our earthly region
    It bestows a gift of love
Glowing in our evening heaven:
    'Tis a farewell star for all to see.