Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IF, by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS Poet's Biography First Line: Yes, death is at the bottom of the cup Last Line: That drop untasted might be somehow spilled. Alternate Author Name(s): Howells, W. D. | ||||||||
YES, death is at the bottom of the cup, And every one that lives must drink it up; And yet between the sparkle at the top And the black less where lurks that bitter drop, There swims enough good liquor, Heaven knows, To ease our hearts of all their other woes. The bubbles rise in sunshine at the brim; That drop below is very far and dim; The quick fumes spread, and shape us such bright dreams That in the glad delirium it seems As though by some deft sleight, if so we willed, That drop untasted might be somehow spilled. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN EARLIEST SPRING by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS THE TWO WIVES by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT? by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS A DOUBLE-BARRELLED SONNET TO MARK TWAIN: 1. FIRST BARREL by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS A DOUBLE-BARRELLED SONNET TO MARK TWAIN: 2. SECOND BARREL by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS A SEASONABLE MORAL by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS AFTER THE WEDDING by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS ALDRICH, 1866-1907 by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS ANOTHER DAY by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS BLACK CROSS FARM by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS BREAKFAST IS MY BEST MEAL: OVERHEARD AT CARLSBAD by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS |
|