I gave my life to another lover,
I gave my love, and all, and all—
But over a dream the past will hover,
Out of a dream the past will call.
I tear myself from sleep with a shiver
But on my breast a kiss is hot,
And by my bed the ghostly giver
Is waiting tho’ I see him not.
Love Poems by Sara Teasdale
Meaning of the Poem ‘Dreams’ by Sara Teasdale
Sara Teasdale’s ‘Dreams’ explores the lingering power of a past love that continues to haunt the speaker, even after she has given herself to someone new. Though her present is devoted to another, the memories of a former lover rise unbidden from dreams, stirring deep emotions and leaving traces, like the warmth of a kiss, that feel vividly real.
The poem captures the inescapable pull of memory and unresolved longing. The “ghostly giver” by her bed represents the past’s emotional grip, suggesting that some loves remain etched in the soul, no matter how time or circumstances move on.
Ultimately, ‘Dreams’ is a haunting portrayal of how past love can linger in the subconscious, blurring the line between memory and desire, and refusing to be forgotten.
