A
Dream
By
Willaim Blake
Once a dream did
weave a shade
O'er my angel-guarded bed,
That an emmet lost its way
Where on grass methought I lay.
Troubled, wildered, and forlorn,
Dark, benighted, travel-worn,
Over many a tangle spray,
All heart-broke, I heard her say:
'Oh my children! do they cry,
Do they hear their father sigh?
Now they look abroad to see,
Now return and weep for me.'
Pitying, I dropped a tear:
But I saw a glow-worm near,
Who replied, 'What wailing wight
Calls the watchman of the night?
'I am set to light the ground,
While the beetle goes his round:
Follow now the beetle's hum;
Little wanderer, hie thee home! '
The poem was first published in William Blake’s collection of poems “Songs
of Innocence” in 1789. The dreams of a lost ant crying out for her family. The
speaker relates to the misery of the ant so much so that he is moved to tears
by her plight. A glow-worm responds to the ant’s misery and shows her the way
home. The basic idea of the poem is to portray a benevolent and compassionate natural
world where help is always available for the week and the needy.
First Stanza
In this stanza, Blake introduces a dream that casts
a shadow over the speaker's bed, which is guarded by angels, indicating a sense
of protection and innocence. The dream features an emmet (an old term for an
ant) that has lost its way. The setting is a grassy place where the speaker
imagines themselves lying down. The dream's imagery suggests a gentle, natural
environment.
Second Stanza
The ant is described as troubled, confused, and
lost ("forlorn"). It is also "dark, benighted,
travel-worn," implying a difficult journey through the darkness. The ant's
hardships are emphasized by the tangled spray (brambles or undergrowth) it must
navigate. The speaker empathizes with the ant, feeling its heartache and
hearing its sorrowful words.
Third Stanza
In this stanza, the ant laments for its children,
wondering if they are crying and if they can hear their father's sighs. The ant
imagines its children searching for it and then weeping upon returning home
without finding their father. This stanza underscores the ant’s deep sense of
responsibility and care for its offspring, reflecting a universal theme of
parental love and concern.
Fourth Stanza
The speaker feels pity for the ant and sheds a
tear. At this moment, a glow-worm appears, representing a source of light and
hope in the darkness. The glow-worm, acting as a kind of watchman or guide in
the night, responds to the ant’s cries. This suggests that even in the darkest
times, there are sources of help and guidance.
Fifth Stanza
The glow-worm explains its role in lighting the
ground at night while the beetle goes about its duties. It advises the ant to
follow the sound of the beetle’s hum to find its way home. The glow-worm’s
guidance indicates the presence of natural aids and signals that can help one
navigate through life’s challenges.
Sixth Stanza
In the final stanza, the ant thanks the glow-worm
and expresses relief at having found its way back home. The ant’s journey has
come full circle, returning to where it initially got lost. The phrase "In
the night I found the day" symbolizes finding clarity, hope, and direction
even in the midst of darkness and confusion.
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