'You should appear less often in my dreams'

by Anna Akhmatova

You should appear less often in my dreams,

　　Since we meet so frequently;

　　Yet only in night's sanctuary

　　Are you sad, troubled, and tender.

　　And sweeter than seraphic praise

　　Is your lips' dear flattery…

　　Ah, in dreams you won't mistake my name,

　　Or gently sigh, as you do here.

This poem is featured in our selection of 100 Great Poems.