ONCE MORE THE DREAM

Once more the dream! Once more the dream! That brings with undiminished gleam The light that shone upon my youth From regions of untarnished Truth. Before this stoic mockery, Called wisdom of maturity, Could dim the luster of its glow. Or ere its cares could stem the flow Of love from thy great heart to me— Thy heart of hills, my Tennessee. Once more the dream! Once more the dream! And all old things unaltered seem; Restored are joys I counted lost Beyond a time all worry-tossed. The streams yet wear a silver sheen Despite the years of change between; The bird songs have their olden thrill, The woods are cool upon the hill, And partial Nature smiles on thee, Who art her queen, my Tennessee. Once more the dream! Once more the dream! And floats to me upon the stream From Memory’s generous spring some form Or voice I loved beyond the storm. And thus does Memory surely prove Herself an angel, born of Love. ’Tis not a dead past that she brings, For past is present when she sings. And thus old joys once known with thee, I live again, my Tennessee. Thus let me dream! Thus let me dream! Nor Time deprive me of a beam. For, oh, that heart is happiest Which dwells on pleasures past and best! And that heart bides in saddest gloom That broods upon some ill to come. Let these old joys and loves be mine Till life shall drift beyond the line From heaven that is to heaven to be, From thy warm heart, my Tennessee.