ANACREONTICS: DRINKING
by: Abraham Cowley (1618-1667)
- HE thirsty
earth soaks up the rain,
- And drinks and gapes for drink again;
- The plants suck in the earth, and are
- With constant drinking fresh and fair;
- The sea itself (which one would think
- Should have but little need of drink)
- Drinks twice ten thousand rivers up,
- So fill'd the they o'erflow the cup.
- The busy Sun (and one would guess
- By 's drunken fiery face no less)
- Drinks up the sea, and when he's done,
- The Moon and Stars drink up the Sun:
- They drink and dance by their own light,
- They drink and revel all the night:
- Nothing in Nature's sober found,
- But an eternal health goes round.
- Fill up the bowl, then, fill it high,
- Fill all the glasses there -- for why
- Should every creature drink but I?
- Why, man of morals, tell me why?
MORE
POEMS BY ABRAHAM COWLEY |
|