I ask but one thing of you, only one, That always you will…
“I ask but one thing of you, only one, That always you will be my dream of you; That never shall I wake to find untrue All this I have believed and rested on, Forever vanished, like a vision gone Out into the night. Alas, how few There are who strike in us a chord we knew Existed, but so seldom heard its tone We tremble at the half-forgotten sound. The world is full of rude awakenings And heaven-born castles shattered to the ground, Yet still our human longing vainly clings To a belief in beauty through all wrongs. O stay your hand, and leave my heart its songs!”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poet longs for an ideal love, confronting disillusionment and the fragile beauty of hope.
In simple terms: Yearning for love while facing harsh reality.
Hold onto hope despite disappointment.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- heartbreak
- artistic inspiration
- spiritual searching
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does beauty mean to you?
- How do you reconcile hope with pain?
Hope can become escapism if not balanced with reality.