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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE TOPER'S PETITION by ANONYMOUS

First Line: "O GRANT ME, KIND BACCHUS"
Last Line: MAY FLOAT ROUND THE WORLD / IN AN OCEAN OF CLARET

I

O grant me, kind Bacchus,
The God of the Vine,
Not a pipe nor a tun,
But an ocean of wine,
With a ship that's well manned
With such rare-hearted fellows,
Who ne'er left the tavern
For a porterly alehouse.

II

Let the ship spring a leak,
To let in the tipple,
Without pump or logboat
To save ship or people:
So that each jolly lad
May always be bound,
Or to drink, or to drink,
Or to drink, or be drowned.

III

When death does prevail,
It is my design
To be nobly entombed
In a wave of good wine:
So that living or dead,
Both body and spirit,
May float round the world
In an ocean of claret.



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