Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ODE, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ODE, by                    
First Line: "if gold could lengthen life, I swear"
Last Line: That once I had the world my slave
Subject(s): Life


IF gold could lengthen life, I swear,
It then should be my chiefest care
To get a heap; that I might say,
When death came to demand his pay,
Thou, slave, take this, and go thy way.

But since life is not to be bought,
Why should I plague myself for nought;
Or foolishly disturb the skies
With vain complaints, or fruitless cries?
For if the fatal destinies
Have all decreed it shall be so,
What good will gold or crying do?

Give me, to ease my thirsty soul,
The joys and comforts of the bowl;
Freedom and health, and, whilst I live,
Let me not want what love can give:
Then shall I die in peace, and have
This consolation in the grave,
That once I had the world my slave.





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