The Promise of Sleep

Amy Levy 1861 (London) – 1889 (London)



Put the sweet thoughts from out thy mind,
The dreams from out thy breast;
No joy for thee--but thou shalt find
Thy rest

All day I could not work for woe,
I could not work nor rest;
The trouble drove me to and fro,
Like a leaf on the storm's breast.

Night came and saw my sorrow cease;
Sleep in the chamber stole;
Peace crept about my limbs, and peace
Fell on my stormy soul.

And now I think of only this,--
How I again may woo
The gentle sleep-- who promises
That death is gentle too.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

30 sec read
349

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAB CBCB DEDE XFXF
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 477
Words 100
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4

Amy Levy

Amy Levy was a British essayist, poet, and novelist best remembered for her feminist positions and her homosexual romances during the Victorian era. more…

All Amy Levy poems | Amy Levy Books

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