When first we quaffed love's jeweled cup Its golden nectar, bitter-sweet, Seemed sparkling with life's ardent heat In deathless brilliance flaming up. We vowed the future should not hold A joy, a grief, a hope unshared By our twin souls, and calmly dared The Fates to make our love turn cold. An empty cup, upturned, I keep— A broken trinket, jewel-set— No more with brimming nectar wet; No more with fragrant promise deep. We drained the glass too fast, I fear; We vowed too often and too much. And so, we find we may not touch The thrilling draught once rich and near. Still, in the broken cup I prize A gleaming jewel that outshines The glow of love's resplendent wines, The passion of your magic eyes. 'Tis memory, set in burnished gold, And burning with a changeless fire Caught from love's slowly fading pyre; The sunset of the days of old. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE JAIN BIRD HOSPITAL IN DELHI by WILLIAM MEREDITH ARCHIMEDES LAST FORAY by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET CONTRA MORTEM: THE SUN by HAYDEN CARRUTH CONTRA MORTEM: THE VILLAGE by HAYDEN CARRUTH CHAMBER MUSIC: 11 by JAMES JOYCE SHE WEEPS OVER RAHOON by JAMES JOYCE STUDY FOR A GEOGRAPHICAL TRAIL; 4. NEW JERSEY by CLARENCE MAJOR |