IF Life were a banquet, and Beauty were wine, And Being the cup to contain it, What duty had man save at ease to recline, Drink deeply, and never disdain it? If Life were a banquet, and Beauty were wine, And Being the cup to contain it! If Life were a banquet, and Glory were wine, And Pain were the strong bowl that held it, Would any man pause ere he quaffed, or repine At the cost, though his heart's blood had swelled it? If Life were a banquet, and Glory were wine, And Pain were the strong bowl that held it! If Life were a banquet, and Love were the wine, And pure lips alone touched the chalice, What soul would refuse for a draught so divine, To purge itself wholly from malice? But Life @3is@1 a banquet, and Love @3is@1 the wine, And pure lips alone touch the chalice! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BEETHOVEN'S SEVENTH SYMPHONY by LYMAN WHITNEY ALLEN THE WANDERING JEW by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN THE STEAM-ENGINE: CANTO 10. THE DEATH OF HUSKISSON by T. BAKER EN TOUR; A SONG SEQUENCE: 4. FOR FRANCES ANN by ALBERTA BANCROFT LITANY TO SATAN by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE MAXIMS FOR THE OLD HOUSE: THE HEARTH by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH |