The American common-place book of poetry with occasional notes |
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“Look not upon the Wine when it is red.”—N. P. Willis
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 | The American common-place book of poetry |  |
“Look not upon the Wine when it is red.”—N. P. Willis
Look not upon the wine when it
Is red within the cup!
Stay not for Pleasure when she fills
Her tempting beaker up!
Though clear its depths, and rich its glow,
A spell of madness lurks below.
Is red within the cup!
Stay not for Pleasure when she fills
Her tempting beaker up!
Though clear its depths, and rich its glow,
A spell of madness lurks below.
They say 'tis pleasant on the lip,
And merry on the brain:
They say it stirs the sluggish blood.
And dulls the tooth of pain.
Ay—but within its glowing deeps
A stinging serpent, unseen, sleeps.
And merry on the brain:
They say it stirs the sluggish blood.
And dulls the tooth of pain.
Ay—but within its glowing deeps
A stinging serpent, unseen, sleeps.
Its rosy lights will turn to fire,
Its coolness change to thirst;
And, by its mirth, within the brain
A sleepless worm is nursed.
There's not a bubble at the brim
That does not carry food for him.
Its coolness change to thirst;
And, by its mirth, within the brain
A sleepless worm is nursed.
There's not a bubble at the brim
That does not carry food for him.
Then dash the brimming cup aside,
And spill its purple wine:
Take not its madness to thy lip—
Let not its curse be thine.
'Tis red and rich—but grief and wo
Are hid those rosy depths below.
And spill its purple wine:
Take not its madness to thy lip—
Let not its curse be thine.
'Tis red and rich—but grief and wo
Are hid those rosy depths below.
| The American common-place book of poetry | |