The Road of Sleep

He seems by day so strong, so gay!
All day we laugh and sing:
This morning he said, "My last night's sleep
Was such a pleasant thing."

Yet all the night and all the night
I thought I heard him cry,
"My soul has got a bitter wound!
Love, help me or I die."

I laid my hand on him and cried,
"Love, did you call on me? "
"You waked me from a pleasant sleep,
Heart of my heart," said he.

Oh, whither leads that road of sleep
Down which we fare alone?
There was never a dream in all the night
Could show where he was gone.

Some wound he may not feel at all
Because it lies too deep,
With a loud voice cried out on me!
I heard it in my sleep.

What strange things happen in thee, O Sleep!
Last night I heard him cry,
"My soul has got a bitter wound!
Love, help me or I die! "