The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay With Illustrations by John Gilbert |
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| XII. |
THE CUP OF OBLIVION. |
 | The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay |  |
345
THE CUP OF OBLIVION.
I
High to my lips I held Oblivion's cup:“Drink,” said Despair, “this liquor, creaming up,
“And so forget all pain that Fate has cast—
“All grief, all pleasure of the dreadful past.”
I raised the cup; I peer'd into its deeps,
And whisper'd to myself: “Here Sorrow sleeps,
“Never to waken; never, never more
“To plague me with the memories of yore.”
II
“What?” said a little voice, remember'd well,That on my spirit, rich as sunlight, fell;
“Wouldst thou forget me, father? Ah, not so!”
I look'd into the cup, and, far below,
Saw that angelic face and golden hair.
“Never, oh never, even in despair—
“However frantic, reasonless, and wild,
“Will I forget thee, O thou heavenly child!”
III
And then another and most winning voice,That oft before had bid my heart rejoice,
Came sparkling from the bottom of the bowl,
And shot electric throbbings through my soul;
And the dark eyes—God's windows from God's heaven—
Blazed love upon me: “Be thy thought forgiven;
“But wilt thou, canst thou do thy heart such wrong,
“As to forget me and my love, death-strong?”
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IV
I turn'd away my lips, threw down the cup,With its dark liquor, creaming ever up:
“I will not taste it! Let my sorrow live,
“Link'd with the joy that Heaven vouchsafes to give!
“I will not lose the mem'ry of these twain,
“For all Oblivion's wealth! Let Grief remain!
“And I will hallow all the forms it takes,
“And love dear Memory for their dearer sakes.”
| The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay | |