NOW my time has come to die, Good, my masters, hear, This a sinner's litany, Shocking to your ear: Life hath played for me to dance Up and down the line -- (Eh, I paid the fiddler, sirs, But the dance was fine!) Love came swinging to my call -- Black-eyed love and bold; Gave me scarlet lips to kiss, Both her hands to hold. Fast and faster fell our feet To the music's beat -- (Eh, I paid the fiddler, sirs, But the dance was sweet!) I have danced it through the world -- Ah, the merry tune! Danced the red sun down the West, Danced away the moon. Could I cavil at the price? Out on souls so mean! (Eh, I paid the fiddler, sirs, But the dance was keen!) Beggared now, my masters all, Cry your cold dispraise; Raise your eyes and count your gold, Trudge your dreary ways. I, the pauper, richer far, Envy not nor pine -- (Eh, I paid the fiddler, sirs, But the dance -- was mine!) | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AUTUMN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DOMESDAY BOOK: THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE BLACK RIDERS: 38 by STEPHEN CRANE VENICE; SONNET by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW SPRING, 1916 by ISAAC ROSENBERG YOUTH, DAY, OLD AGE AND NIGHT by WALT WHITMAN |