LIFE scums the cream of Beauty with Time's spoon, And draws the claret-wine of Blushes soon; Then boils it in a skillet clean of Youth, And thicks it well with crumbled bread of Truth; Sets it upon the fire of Life which does Burn clearer much when Health her bellows blows Then takes the eggs of fair and bashful Eyes, And puts them in a countenance that's wise, Cuts in a lemon of the sharpest Wit— Discretion as a knife is used for it— A handful of chaste Thoughts, double-refined, Six spoonfuls of a noble and gentle Mind, A grain of Mirth to give't a little taste, Then takes it off for fear the substance waste, And puts it in a basin of good Health, And with this meat doth Nature please herself. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SEA POPPIES by HILDA DOOLITTLE TO A CHILD DURING SICKNESS by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT SONNET: 151 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AN HYMN TO THE EVENING by PHILLIS WHEATLEY THE ART OF PRESERVING HEALTH: BOOK 2. DIET by JOHN ARMSTRONG EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 10. BLIND LOVE by PHILIP AYRES |