Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE INDIAN WEED, by RALPH ERSKINE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE INDIAN WEED, by                    
First Line: This indian weed, now withered quite
Last Line: Thus think, and drink tobacco.
Subject(s): Smoking; Tobacco; Pipes; Cigars; Cigarettes


This Indian weed, now withered quite,
Though green at noon, cut down at night,
Shows thy decay,-
All flesh is hay:
Thus think, and drink tobacco.
The pipe, so lily-like and weak,
Does thus thy mortal state bespeak;
Thou art e'en such,--
Gone with a touch:
Thus think, and drink tobacco.

And when the smoke ascends on high,
Then thou behold'st the vanity
Of worldly stuff,--
Gone with a puff:
Thus think, and drink tobacco.

And when the pipe grows foul within,
Think on thy soul defiled with sin;
For then the fire
It does require:
Thus think, and drink tobacco.

And seest the ashes cast away,
Then to thyself thou mayest say
That to the dust
Return thou must:
Thus think, and drink tobacco.




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