Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO F. W., by WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO F. W., by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Let us be drunk, and for a while forget
Last Line: Let us be drunk!
Alternate Author Name(s): Henley, W. E.
Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse


Let us be drunk, and for a while forget,
Forget, and, ceasing even from regret,
Live without reason and despite of rhyme,
As in a dream preposterous and sublime,
Where place and hour and means for once are met.

Where is the use of effort? Love and debt
And disappointment have us in a net.
Let us break out, and taste the morning prime . . .
Let us be drunk.

In vain our little hour we strut and fret,
And mouth our wretched parts as for a bet:
We cannot please the tragicaster Time.
To gain the crystal sphere, the silver clime,
Where Sympathy sits dimpling on us yet,
Let us be drunk!





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