Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AT THE TAVERN by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

First Line: A LILT AND A SWING
Last Line: FOR A DRINK IS MORE KIND THAN A PRIEST.
Subject(s): ALCOHOLISM & ALCOHOLICS; BARS & BARTENDERS; DRUNKARDS; ALCOHOL ABUSE; PUBS; TAVERNS; SALOONS;
A LILT and a swing,
And a ditty to sing,
Or ever the night grow old;
The wine is within,
And I'm sure 't were a sin
For a soldier to choose to be cold, my dear,
For a soldier to choose to be cold.

We 're right for a spell,
But the fever is -- well,
No thing to be braved, at least;
So bring me the wine;
No low fever in mine,
For a drink is more kind than a priest, my dear,
For a drink is more kind than a priest.



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