Text: Edgar Allan Poe, “A Dream within a Dream” (Comparative Text - Examiner proofsheets and Flag of Our Union)

 

Misc: {{1849-02: [Written for The Flag of our Union.] }}

 

Title: {{1849-01: TO —— —— //1849-02: A Dream within a Dream. }}

 

Rule: {{1849-02: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ }}

Byline: {{1849-02: BY EDGAR A. POE. }}

Rule: {{1849-02: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ }}

 

Line-01-001 Take this kiss upon 1849-01: thy //1849-02: the }} brow!

Line-01-002 And, in parting from you now,

Line-01-003 Thus much let me avow —

Line-01-004 You are not wrong, 1849-01: to //1849-02: who }} deem

Line-01-005 That my days have been a dream;

Line-01-006 Yet if Hope has flown away

Line-01-007 In a night, or in a day,

Line-01-008 In a vision, or in none,

Line-01-009 Is it therefore the less gone?

Line-01-010 All that we see or seem

Line-01-011 Is but a dream within a dream.

 

Line-01-012 I stand amid the roar

Line-01-013 Of a surf-tormented shore,

Line-01-014 And I hold within my hand

Line-01-015 Grains of the golden sand —

Line-01-016 How few! yet how they creep

Line-01-017 Through my fingers to the deep,

Line-01-018 While I weep — while I weep!

Line-01-019 O 1849-01: , }} God! can I not grasp

Line-01-020 Them with a tighter clasp?

Line-01-021 O 1849-01: , }} God! can I not save

Line-01-022 One from the pitiless wave?

Line-01-023 Is all that we see or seem

Line-01-024 But a dream within a dream?