University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore

Collected by Himself. In Ten Volumes
  

expand sectionI, II. 
expand sectionIII, IV. 
expand sectionV. 
collapse sectionVI, VII. 
  
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand sectionVIII, IX. 
expand sectionX. 


112

TO JAMES CORRY, ESQ.

ON HIS MAKING ME A PRESENT OF A WINE STRAINER.

Brighton, June, 1825.
This life, dear Corry, who can doubt?—
Resembles much friend Ewart's wine,
When first the rosy drops come out,
How beautiful, how clear they shine!
And thus awhile they keep their tint,
So free from even a shade with some,
That they would smile, did you but hint,
That darker drops would ever come.
But soon the ruby tide runs short,
Each minute makes the sad truth plainer,
Till life, like old and crusty port,
When near its close, requires a strainer.

113

This friendship can alone confer,
Alone can teach the drops to pass,
If not as bright as once they were,
At least unclouded, through the glass.
Nor, Corry, could a boon be mine,
Of which this heart were fonder, vainer,
Than thus, if life grow like old wine,
To have thy friendship for its strainer.
 

A wine-merchant.