A Dream Within a Dream

I listen to public radio a lot. One of my favorite features is The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor. If you've never listened, he typically gives some historical highlights for the day, not all of them literary-based. Then he reads a poem.

Today, I was delighted when Garrison announced January 19th is Edgar Allan Poe's birthday. I have loved Poe's works since I was in junior high. I read all the scary stories. I even read his crime stories, although I didn't like them quite as much. Did you know that Poe is credited with writing the first modern detective story? And as every school child knows, "Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore!' "

Garrison gave some very interesting and new (to me) info on Poe's life. To summarize, it was that much of the negative things we've always heard about Poe were the result of retribution by a contemporary author who took post-mortem revenge for a harsh book review Poe had once written of the other guy. Garrison then read a poem by Poe I hadn't heard before.

The poem was "A Dream Within a Dream." Usually, I love the way Garrison reads the daily poem. But today, I felt he somewhat missed the mark with this one. So I'm putting the poem below. And I'm also providing the link to The Writer's Almanac where you can hear the entire feature for the day (they're only a couple of minutes long).

I'm asking that you read this poem. Don't just skim through it. Really read it. Read it out loud. I don't care if you read it to another person, to your dogs, to your cats, or just to yourself. But I want you to physically hear the words. Then think about it. Digest it. Do this before you listen to Garrison Keillor read it, but here's the link: http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/ and make sure you go to Jan. 19, 2012.

Once you've done all this, post your comments. What does this poem say to you about your own life? Share with us. I'll bet you never expected this blog was going to include homework!

A Dream Within a Dream
by Edgar Allan Poe

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand--
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep--while I weep!
O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! Can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

Now I ask you, is there a dry eye in the place?