There are 16 poems about death; 3 about war; 2 about humanity and exile; 1 on friendship; 1 on travel, and; 1 on femininity.
The first poem, which is also entitled ‘The Dream’ is 64 pages long, with themes of death, romance, regret, grief, and the natural world.
The protagonist, a nameless speaker described as the Hermit narrates his past romance through flashbacks to his long-lost friend, describing the woman he fell in love with in the past, and how her father did not approve of the Hermit as a suitor.
This murder riddles the Hermit speaker with grief and guilt; changing his appearance and destroying their romantic relationship.
This knowledge eventually leads to his lover's death, which explains the Hermit's current isolation.