1892 The flowing bowl when and what to drink (1892, c1891)

THIRSTY earth drinks up the rain, Trees from earth drink that again; Ocean drinks the air; the sun Drinks the sea, and him the moon. Any reason, canst thou think, I should thirst while all these drink ?

ANACREON.

DRINK

! enjoy the hour; what the morrow bringeth

None can tell;

then vex not thy soul with idle care;

Being and Not-being but a point divideth; Life is but a moment; then make that moment fair. Piles of hoarded treasure, heaps of gold and silver Hades self might chuckle, when thou call'st them thine; Surely thou hast nothing but that which thou enjoyest: Only while enjoying canst thou say, " Tis mine." AN OLD POET.

HE who joy has never found In the flute's entrancing sound, Bacchus' gifts who dares despise Song and laugh and maidens' eyes; He who at his grudging board, Thinks upon his growing hoard, Reckoning interest in his head Him I count already dead.

Shuddering and disgusted, I Pass the meagre carcass by.

AN OLD POET.

275