Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, COME, HONEST BOYS, by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COME, HONEST BOYS, by                 Poet Analysis    
First Line: Ye who have nothing to conceal
Last Line: In summer, under some green tree?
Alternate Author Name(s): Davies, W. H.
Subject(s): Death; Drinks & Drinking; Dead, The; Wine


Ye who have nothing to conceal,
Come, honest boys, and drink with me;
Come, drink with me the sparkling ale,
And we'll not whisper calumny,
But laugh with all the power we can;
But all pale schemers who incline
To rise above your fellow man,
Touch not the sparkling ale or wine.

Give me strong ale to fire my blood,
Content me with a lot that's bad;
That is to me both drink and food,
And warms me though I am ill-clad;
A pot of ale, man owns the world:
The poet hears his songs all sung,
Inventor sees his patents sold,
The painter sees his pictures hung.

The creeds remind us oft of Death;
But man's best creed is to forget
Death all the hours that he takes breath,
And quaff the sparkling ale, and let
Creeds shout until they burst their lungs;
For what is better than to be
A-drinking ale and singing songs,
In summer, under some green tree?





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