Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LORD ALCOHOL; SONG, by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LORD ALCOHOL; SONG, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Who tames the lion now?
Last Line: Lord alcohol alway.
Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse


I.

Who tames the lion now?
Who smoothes Jove's wrinkles now?
Who is the reckless wight
That in the horrid middle
Of the deserted night
Doth play upon man's brain,
As on a wanton fiddle,
The mad and magic strain,
The reeling, tripping sound,
To which the world goes round?
Sing heigh! ho! diddle!
And then say --
Love, quotha, Love? nay, nay!
It is a spirit fine
Of ale or ancient wine,
Lord Alcohol, the drunken fay,
Lord Alcohol alway!

II.

Who maketh the pipe-clay man
Think all that nature can?
Who dares the gods to flout,
Lay fate beneath the table,
And maketh him stammer out
A thousand monstrous things,
For history a fable,
Dish-clouts for kings?
And sends the world along
Singing a ribald song
Of heigho! Babel?
Who, I pray --
Love, quotha, Love? nay, nay!
It is spirit fine
Of ale or ancient wine,
Lord Alcohol, the drunken fay,
Lord Alcohol alway.





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