WHEN in death I shall calm recline, Oh, bear my heart to my mistress dear! Tell her it lived upon smiles and wine Of the brightest hue, while it linger'd here. Bid her not shed one tear of sorrow, To sully a heart so brilliant and light; But balmy drops of the red grape borrow, To bathe the relic from morn till night. When the light of my song is o'er, Then take my harp to your ancient hall; Hang it up at that friendly door, Where weary travellers love to call. Then if some bard, who roams forsaken, Revive its soft note in passing along, Oh! let one thought of its master waken Your warmest smile for the child of song. Keep this cup, which is now o'erflowing, To grace your revel when I'm at rest; Never, oh! never its balm bestowing On lips that beauty hath seldom bless'd. But when some warm devoted lover To her he adores shall bathe its brim, Then, then my spirit around shall hover, And hallow each drop that foams for him. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE FRINGED GENTIAN by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT AUTUMN DAY by RAINER MARIA RILKE THE DARK FOREST by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS SONG AT THE FEAST OF BROUGHAM CASTLE; UPON RSTORATION OF LORD CLIFFORD by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH COTTON MILL FUNERAL by STEWART ATKINS CLIO, NINE ECLOGUES IN HONOUR OF NINE VIRTUES: 7. OF HOSPITALITY by WILLIAM BASSE |