Dreams Quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley
““I arise from dreams of thee In the first sweet sleep of night, When the winds are breathing low, And the stars are shining bright. I arise from dreams of thee, And a spirit in my feet Has led me -who knows how? To thy chamber-window, Sweet! The wandering airs they faint On the dark, the silent stream - The champak odours fail Like sweet thoughts in a dream; The nightingale's complaint, It dies upon her heart, As I must die on thine, O beloved as thou art! Oh lift me from the grass! I die! I faint! I fail! Let thy love in kisses rain On my lips and eyelids pale. My cheek is cold and white, alas! My heart beats loud and fast; Oh press it close to thine again, Where it will break at last!””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unpublished lyrical verse, 1820s
The speaker longs for a beloved, expressing intense yearning and emotional turmoil as night deepens.
In simple terms: Deep longing for love in night
Key Takeaway
Embrace love despite pain
Themes
love
yearning
night
desire
Mood
melancholic
passionate
Type
poetic
romantic
When to use this quote
- late night contemplation
- personal confession
- poetic expression
Key Concepts
Romanticism
emotional intensity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance yearning with self‑care?
- What does night symbolize for your emotions?
A Different Perspective
Love can become overwhelming and destabilizing
