Dream-Pedlary-Thomas Lovell Beddoes (1803-1849)

If there were dreams to sell,

 What would you buy?

Some cost a passing bell;

Some a light sigh,

That shakes from Life's fresh crown

Only a rose-leaf down.

I there were dreams to sell,

Merry and sad to tell,

And the crier rang the bell,

What would you buy?

A cottage lone and still,

With bowers nigh,

Shadowy, my woes to still,

Until I die.

Such pearl from Life's fresh crown

Fain would I shake me down,

Were dreams to have at will,

This would best heal my ill,

This would I buy.

But there were dreams to sell,

Ill didst thou buy;

Life is a dream, they tell,

Waking, to die

Dreaming a dream to prize

Is wishing ghosts to rise;

And, if I had the spell

To call the buried well, 

Which one would I?

If  there are ghosts to raise,What shall I call,

Out of hell's murky haze,

Heavens blue pall?

Raise my loved long-lost boy

To lead me to his joy.There are no ghosts to raise;

Out of death lead no ways; 

Vain is the call.

Know'st thou not ghosts to sue?

No love thou hast.

Else lie, as I will do

And breath thy last.

So out of Life's fresh crown

Fall like a rose-leaf down

Thus are the ghosts to woo;

Thus all dreams made true

Ever to last!