Why fades a dream?
   An iridescent ray
 Flecked in between the tryst
   Of night and day.
   Why fades a dream? --
 Of consciousness the shade
 Wrought out by lack of light and made
   Upon life's stream.
   Why fades a dream?
That thought may thrive,
   So fades the fleshless dream;
 Lest men should learn to trust
   The things that seem.
   So fades a dream,
 That living thought may grow
 And like a waxing star-beam glow
   Upon life's stream --
   So fades a dream.