Featured Poem: From Dewy Dreams by James Joyce

This week's Featured Poem is the choice of Sophie Johnson, our Conference Administrator, who has picked a classic by James Joyce.

Since the brilliant Brian Nellist is currently featuring Joyce, among others, in his 6 week reading course Down to Earth, we thought it was only right to your wet your whistle with a short poem from the Irish juggernaut. Although Joyce made his name as a brooding master of Avant-garde stories, ‘From Dewy Dreams’ presents a softer portrait of the day coming to life with spring-like exuberance. For more information about all current courses, please visit our website.

From Dewy Dreams

From dewy dreams, my soul, arise,
From love's deep slumber and from death,
For lo! the trees are full of sighs
Whose leaves the morn admonisheth.

Eastward the gradual dawn prevails
Where softly-burning fires appear,
Making to tremble all those veils
Of grey and golden gossamer.

While sweetly, gently, secretly,
The flowery bells of morn are stirred
And the wise choirs of faery
Begin (innumerous!) to be heard.

James Joyce