Classic Poem

I dreamt, one lovely summer night,
That a wee robin, swift and bright,
In through my window fluttered;
And as I watched it in surprise,
It gazed upon me with soft eyes,
And these words slowly uttered:

" Excuse me for my long delay,
I have been miles upon my way,
And really have not tarried;
I am so tired I can not speak,
But take this letter from my beak,
And see who's to be married! "

Then flying off through shadows drear,
It rested in my garden near;
I hardly breathed to listen, —
And in my open hand I saw,
Still overcome by nameless awe,
A lovely sunbeam glisten!

And written there in flaming lines,
With specks of light and mystic signs,
I read with eyes delighted,
That the great wedding of the sun
With the chaste moon, had just begun,
And I had been invited.

And in a postscript I was told
The letter in my hand to hold,
And when the clock struck seven,
To seek the fragrant woodlands, where
The dewy roses scent the air,
And look up into Heaven.

So forth I went, and saw with pride,
The pale moon blushing like a bride,
Draped in a cloud-veil tender;
Escorted by the sun, whose glare
Shone on her face, supremely fair,
In fascinating splendor.

Behind them trooped in gorgeous state
And fiery robes the planets great,
Their ministers and sages;
And far beyond, in skies of flame,
With twinkling eyes and bright feet came
The stars, their merry pages;

While brilliant meteors, too, were there,
Roaming about the radiant air,
Most luminous and splendid;
And awful comets everywhere
Trailed round the scintillating pair,
With long tails nicely blended.

Then hosts of lesser lights gleamed forth,
The constellations of the North,
Venus and Ursus Major;
To compliment the happy sun,
Jest with the moon and have fine fun
By trying to enrage her.

But she remained upon her throne
Of purple clouds by light winds blown,
Serene and without passion;
While to the hosts of minor stars,
The sun threw beams and golden bars
In generous, kingly fashion.

The bride had jewels rare and bright.
Presents from some far satellite,
And rings, the gift of Saturn;
While Sirius sent a ruby ray,
To wear for morning negligee ,
Of most delicious pattern.

And every royal asteroid,
To hail their king and queen o'erjoyed,
Had given their coruscations;
While to do honor on their side,
With one another planets vied
In grand illuminations.

The lightning blazed along the sky
To lume the grand procession by,
While from above and under,
The welkin echoed loud and long
With the reverberating song
Of grave, melodious thunder.

And as I watched the wondrous sight,
Far in the voids of endless night
The glorious throng departed.
And I awoke from dreams of space,
Only to find that on my face
A ray of sunshine darted.