I DEVISE to end my days -- in a tavern drinking, May some Christian hold for me -- the glass when I am shrinking, That the cherubim may cry -- when they see me sinking, God be merciful to a soul -- of this gentleman's way of thinking. A glass of wine amazingly -- enlighteneth one's internals; 'Tis wings bedewed with nectar -- that fly up to supernals; Bottles cracked in taverns -- have much the sweeter kernels, Than the sups allowed to us -- in the college journals. Every one by nature hath -- a mold which he was cast in; I happen to be one of those -- who never could write fasting; By a single little boy -- I should be surpass'd in Writing so: I'd just as lief -- be buried; tomb'd and grass'd in. Every one by nature hath -- a gift too, a dotation: I, when I make verses -- do get the inspiration Of the very best of wine -- that comes into the nation: It maketh sermons to astound -- for edification. Just as liquor floweth good -- floweth forth my lay so; But I must moreover eat -- or I could not say so; Naught it availeth inwardly -- should I write all day so; But with God's grace after meat -- I beat Ovidius Naso. Neither is there given to me -- prophetic animation, Unless when I have eat and drank -- yea, ev'n to saturation, Then in my upper story -- hath Bacchus domination, And Phoebus rushes into me, and beggareth all relation. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RECOLLECTIONS OF LOVE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A LOVE SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER by THOMAS MOORE FALLING ASLEEP by SIEGFRIED SASSOON WOMAN'S BEAUTY by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE LILIES: 7. BEHIND by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |