 Samuel Kettell, ed.  Specimens of American Poetry.  1829. Dream
of the Sea By Grenville Mellen (1799–1841)   I DREAMT 1 that I
went down into the sea Unpain’d amid the waters—and a world Of
splended wrecks, formless and numberless, Broke on my vision. It
did seem the skies Were o’er me pure as fancy—yet waves        5
Did rattle round my head, and fill mine ears Like the
measureless roar of the far fight When battle has set up her
trumpet shout! I seem’d to breathe the air; and yet the sea Kept
dallying with my life as I sunk down.        10 ’T was in the
fitful fashion of a dream— Water and air—walking, and yet no
earth. The deep seem’d bare and dry—and yet I went With a rude
dashing round my reeking face, Until my outstretched and
trembling feet        15 Stood still upon a bed of glittering
pearls! The hot sun was right over me, at noon— Sudden it
wither’d up the ocean—till I seem’d amidst a waste of shapeless
clay. A thousand bones were whitening in his rays,        20
Mass upon mass,—confused and withou