Poem of the Month
Selected by David Underdown who also writes the commentary.
Drinking
by Abraham Cowley
The thirsty Earth soaks up the Rain,
And drinks, and gapes for drink again.
The Plants soak up the Earth, and are
With constant drinking fresh and fair.
The Sea itself which one would think
Should have but little need for Drink,
Drinks ten thousand rivers up,
So filled that they o’er flow the Cup.
The busy Sun (and one would guess
By his drunken fiery face no less)
Drinks up the Sea, and when he has done,
The Moon and Stars drink up the Sun.
They drink and dance by their own light,
They drink and revel all the night.
Nothing in Nature’s sober found,
But an eternal Health goes round.
Fill up the Bowl, then fill it high,
Fill all the Glasses there, for why
Should every creature drink but I,
Why, Man of Morals, tell me why?
