 | Poems |  |
79
THE ANGEL, THE WINE, AND PEARLS.
AN ALLEGORY OF THE YEAR.
I.
I saw a tiny flask of wine
An Angel held, 'twas rare and fine.
An Angel held, 'twas rare and fine.
A little golden round of light,
With every dainty picture dight.
With every dainty picture dight.
Upon its sculptured sides I found
Both joy and woe, close linked around.
Both joy and woe, close linked around.
I wondered at the goblet fine,
The gleaming gold, the little wine.
The gleaming gold, the little wine.
The Angel said; “This flask I hold
Is more to man than simple gold,
Is more to man than simple gold,
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“Or rosy nectar; here are found—
Within its fair and golden round—
Within its fair and golden round—
“Great drops of blood that yield a life
With every dainty pleasure rife;
With every dainty pleasure rife;
“Nor lacks it woe at times; and here
Are stored the secrets of a year.
Are stored the secrets of a year.
II.
“These pearls”—the Angel's delicate hand
A dozen radiant pearls it spanned—
A dozen radiant pearls it spanned—
“Are months, that will the goblet load
Until the rim is overflowed:
Until the rim is overflowed:
“The crimson flood is crowded up
Until the year's end fills the cup.”
Until the year's end fills the cup.”
And having said, the Angel spilled
A single pearl, the inner gild
A single pearl, the inner gild
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Was deeper buried in the hue
Of crimson. Said the Angel: “View!
Of crimson. Said the Angel: “View!
“A pearl is dropped, a time has flown,
The secret of a month is known.”
The secret of a month is known.”
Then fell another; others still
Close followed this, and this, until
Close followed this, and this, until
The crimson flood rose bubbling up—
Each pearl-drop deeper filled the cup—
Each pearl-drop deeper filled the cup—
And rosily just brimmed the top.
But one more pearl was left to drop.
But one more pearl was left to drop.
III.
I looked. Her fingers loosed, it falls—
The round of golden-gleaming walls
The round of golden-gleaming walls
Are sunk below the crimson line—
The buried pearl has spilled the wine.
The buried pearl has spilled the wine.
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The Angel set the cup aside;
I asked: “Why this?” and quick replied
I asked: “Why this?” and quick replied
The radiant spirit, reaching up
To clasp another ready cup:
To clasp another ready cup:
“Each pearl-month i' the goblet falls,
The life-blood climbs the golden walls
The life-blood climbs the golden walls
“Until the rim is reached, and here
Is broke the bubble of the year.
Is broke the bubble of the year.
“The gems have run the goblet o'er,
The wine is richer for the store:
The wine is richer for the store:
“The pearls are spilled, the months have flown,
The secrets of a year are known.”
The secrets of a year are known.”
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