2 poems by W. B. Yeats

Cosmic clouds emitted from the Heart Nebula IC 1805 - near constellation Cassiopeia

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

A Deep Sworn Vow

Others because you did not keep
That deep-sworn vow have been friends of mine;
Yet always when I look death in the face,
When I clamber to the heights of sleep,
Or when I grow excited with wine,
Suddenly I meet your face. 
____________________________

These two poems figure heavily in a song cycle that I am working up for the coming season.
Somehow, I fall in love with them more and more with every practice session.

The first poem is especially important to me at this time of year, just before my studio season starts. I read it to remind myself as a teacher that my students are coming to me with their dreams. I have the responsibility to them to nurture and honor their efforts and help them recognize their own triumphs.

The second poem is because after almost 18 years I reached out and received an answer, one of mutual respect and friendship and that is all I really ever needed...