Observations placeholder
Barrett Browning, Elizabeth - A True Dream
Identifier
002575
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
This is what the opium fairy looks like.............A description of the experience
Elizabeth Barrett Browning – from A True Dream
I unsealed the vial mystical,
I outpoured the liquid thing,
And while the smoke came wreathing out,
I stood unshuddering.
The smoke came wreathing, wreathing out,
All mute, and dark and slow,
Till its cloud was stained with a fleshly hue,
And a fleshly form 'gan show.
Then paused the smoke - but the mortal form
A garment swart did veil,
I looked on it with fixed heart,
Yea - not a pulse did fail!
I unsealed the vial mystical,
I outpoured the liquid thing,
And while the smoke came wreathing out,
I stood unshuddering.
The smoke came wreathing, wreathing out,
And now it was faster and lighter,
And it bore on its folds the rainbow’s hues,
Heaven could not show them brighter.
Then paused the smoke, the rainbow’s hues
Did a childish face express -
The rose in the cheek, the blue in the eye,
The yellow in the tress.
The fair young child shook back her hair,
And round me her arms did wreathe,
Her lips were hard and cold as stone,
They sucked away my breath.