Once in a dream I saw a man
With haggard face and tangled hair
And eyes that nursed as wild a care
As gaunt starvation ever can;
And in his hand he held a wand
Whose magic touch gave life and thought
Unto a form his fancy wrought
And robed with coloring so grand
It seemed a reflex of some child
Of heaven, fair and undefiled-
A face of purity and love-
To woo him into worlds above:
And as I gazed with dazzled eyes,
A gleaming smile lit up his lips
As his bright soul from it’s eclipse
Went flashing into Paradise.
Then tardy Fame came through the door
And found a picture-nothing more.
                        -James Whitcomb Riley