On the cool porcelain lies the jade-green sphere, Netted in russet, thickly over-traced With curious cryptic symbols such as placed Those dusky hirelings on the Alhambra. Here Demeter scrawls a message; where's the seer To read her cypher? Warnng against waste Mayhap -- or charge with reverent lip to taste This sumptuous offering of the liberal year. Were these neat grooves designed to guide the blade? I choose to slash quite counter to the hint; And lo! I have a fluted chalice made! I plunge my spoon in fragrant pulp aflush With tender salmon, an enchanting tint, Too sweet to leave -- too exquisite to crush! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ROSY BOSOM'D HOURS by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE MOLLY PITCHER [JUNE 28, 1778] by LAURA ELIZABETH HOWE RICHARDS ANACTORIA by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE THE YEAR OF JUBILEE by HENRY CLAY WORK THE BOOK OF THE LETTER, SELECTION by ABRAHAM ABULAFIA |