"I dreamt a dream of dark and rolling fog..."

I dreamt a dream of dark and rolling fog
Upon and through the grasses of a field
That traveled past and caused my thoughts to jog
On mem’ries lost and feelings that were sealed
In doubt and fear that they could not be healed.
Such fog to bring these mem'ries back from deep
And cause my heart to leap at secrets I should keep.

And in that cautious state I met a man:
A man in whom was certain I could trust…
And in that trust I found my words began:
“Although I know you not, I know I must
Confide to you such things should be discussed.”
And at that time I found I could reveal
Those things I would conceal for fear they never heal.

The man then turned his aged eyes to me
And spoke as though he heard not what I said.
For what had I presumed that he could see,
This man who knew not what was in my head?
But just as soon I knew I could be dead
And no one then would ever hear that truth:
The stories and the truth and follies of my youth.

I spoke to him again and told him how
My life had come and gone and now was spent
For poorest choice and darkest, painful vow:
A secret kept while given my consent;
A secret swept beneath a carpet crept
Up o’er my life and confidence coerced...
Now half my life traversed, I find my travels cursed.

Once again this aged fool did turn
And spake to me in such an open way:
No wrinkled brow nor sign of such concern;
No lowered voice or dread did he convey;
Although, unholy truth did he betray
When spake he of those things I did reveal,
And for my faults did he to Providence appeal.

In fear and dread I begged him to desist
To Holy ears could not my tale be told,
For life indeed would cease if he insist
And find me cast beyond the darkest cold;
If Providence my truths would yet behold.
When silence at my heartfelt pleas was not
Yet given unto me I knew all hope forgot.

So listened I unto his honest tongue
That told the Father what this heart had done,
That told the pain and mis’ry it had brung,
That spoke those words ‘twould never be undone;
It seemed at last fair justice had begun.
And when at once the shadowed fog rolled back
I knew no punishment nor consequence would lack.

But then I found it with these weary eyes
That from that dream so fearful I awoke.
I heard the voice that Providence devised
Would serve to speak to mortals when he spoke.
The words it gave these tears it did provoke,
And silence filled my chamber as it left,
And left this soul divested, broken and bereft.

The silence hanging then provoked my thoughts
That nothing could have given me the same
As what it was wise Providence had brought:
A freedom and forgiveness for my name
That could restore and mend this broken frame.
And then I knew what truly I once lost:
What price my life had cost, what love would not exhaust.

In silence lost and darkness wrapped I wept
To think that one so broken had been freed.
Then slowly up forgotten feelings crept:
This conscience and those feelings then agreed
By freedom would this life sustained be.
A warming sun then shone through shutters drawn,
And welcomed me on that the first of many dawn.