'The Dream' Summary

John Donne's metaphysical poem The Dream is a complex and enigmatic exploration of the nature of love, reality, and illusion. The poem begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, telling her that he would not have woken up from his beautiful dream of her if she had not entered his room. He goes on to say that his dream did not stop when he woke up, but rather continued in his waking state.

The speaker's beloved is so real and perfect to him that she even makes the dreams of the poets seem pale in comparison. He asks her to come to him and let him embrace her, so that he can continue the pleasure which he was about to enjoy in his dream.

In the second stanza, the speaker describes his beloved's eyes as the light of a candle or a bolt of lightning. He says that it was this light that woke him up, but he is not angry at her for waking him up. In fact, he is even more grateful for her presence now that he is awake.

The speaker's beloved is a paradox. She is both real and unreal, both mortal and divine. She is the embodiment of all that the speaker desires, but she is also unattainable. She is the dream that he can never fully wake up from.

In the third stanza, the speaker reflects on the nature of his beloved's love. He says that her love is so strong that it can even make the impossible possible. He compares her to a goddess who can walk on the earth without leaving footprints.

The speaker concludes the poem by asking his beloved to stay with him forever. He says that he is willing to give up everything else in the world for her love.

The Dream is a beautiful and moving poem that celebrates the power of love. It is also a thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of reality and illusion. Donne's use of imagery and symbolism is rich and complex, and his poem has resonated with readers for centuries.