Seamen three! What men be ye? Gotham's three wise men we be. Whither in your bowl so free? To rake the moon from out the sea. The bowl goes trim. The moon doth shine. And our ballast is old wine -- @3And your ballast is old wine.@1 Who art thou, so fast adrift? I am he they call Old Care. Here on board we will thee lift. No: I may not enter there. Whereforeso? 'Tis Jove's decree, In a bowl Care may not be -- @3In a bowl Care may not be.@1 Fear ye the waves that roll? No; in charmed bowl we swim. What the charm that floats the bowl? Water may not pass the brim. The bowl goes trim. The moon doth shine. And our ballast is old wine -- @3And your ballast is old wine.@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE TIDE OF FAITH by MARY ANN EVANS JOY OF THE MORNING by EDWIN MARKHAM FEELINGS OF A REPUBLICAN ON THE FALL OF BONAPARTE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE ROSE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH PREFACE TO ERINNA'S POEMS by ASCLEPIADES OF SAMOS TWELVE SONNETS: 11. FIRST, BATTLE; THEN, WOMAN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |