Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE CUP OF LIFE by MIKHAIL YUREVICH LERMONTOV

Poet Analysis

First Line: WE DRINK THE CUP OF LIFE WHILE YET
Last Line: NOR EVEN OURS THE DREAMING!

WE drink the cup of life while yet
A veil our eyes is keeping;
And the cup's golden brim is wet
With tears of our own weeping.

But when the veil falls from our eyes,
As Death appears before us,
Then with the veil the mystery flies
That held enchantment o'er us.

Oh then we see the golden cup
Was empty in its gleaming,
That only dreaming filled it up,
Nor even ours the dreaming!



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