The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/Why Fades a Dream?

WHY FADES A DREAM?

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.