Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN PRAISE OF WINE, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN PRAISE OF WINE, by                    
First Line: "diogenes, surly and proud"
Last Line: "philosophers, poets, or kings"
Subject(s): Diogenes;drinks & Drinking


DIOGENES, surly and proud,
Who snarled at the Macedon youth,
Delighted in wine that was good,
Because in good wine there was truth;
But, growing as poor as Job,
Unable to purchase a flask,
He chose for his mansion a tub,
And lived by the scent of the cask.

Heraclitus ne'er would deny
To tipple and cherish his heart,
And when he was maudlin he'd cry
Because he had emptied his quart;
Though some are so foolish to think
He wept at men's folly and vice,
'T was only his fashion to drink
Till the liquor flowed out of his eyes.

Democritus always was glad
Of a bumper to cheer up his soul,
And would laugh like a man that was mad,
When over a good flowing bowl.
As long as his cellar was stored,
The liquor he'd merrily quaff;
And when he was drunk as a lord,
At those who were sober he'd laugh.

Copernicus, too, like the rest,
Believed there was wisdom in wine,
And thought that a cup of the best
Made reason the better to shine.
With wine he'd replenish his veins
And make his philosophy reel;
Then fancied the world, like his brain,
Turned round like a chariot wheel.

Aristotle, that master of arts,
Had been but a dunce without wine;
And what we ascribe to his parts,
Is due to the juice of the vine;
His belly, most writers agree,
Was as big as a watering-trough;
He therefore leaped into the sea,
Because he'd have liquor enough.

Old Plato, the learned divine,
He fondly to wisdom was prone;
But had it not been for good wine,
His merits had never been known.
By wine we are generous made,
It furnishes fancy with wings;
Without it, we ne'er should have had
Philosophers, poets, or kings.





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