Yes, death is at the bottom of the cup,
And every one that lives must drink it up;
And yet between the sparkle at the top
And the black lees where lurks the bitter drop,
There swims enough good liquor, Heaven knows,
To ease our hearts of all their other woes.
The bubbles rise in sunshine at the brim;
That drop below is very far and dim;
The quick fumes spread, and shape us such bright dreams
That in the glad delirium it seems
As though by some deft sleight, if so we willed,
That drop untasted might be somehow spilled.
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Comments
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love it love it love it your great keep it up
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Picky, the author is deeply greatful for the encouragement.
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Comments copies from a a previous version of this poem.
-Duck-Bag- on May 22, 2004, 7:34 p.m.
, 7 critiques. said:
It's good...couldn't stop reading it....good.
Buried Alive on May 26, 2004, 2:34 p.m.
God kills, and so shall we., 743 critiques. said:
i love this poem! it is... weird but interesting. i love how he thinks of life a some drink...
flrt421f on Jun 03, 2004, 6:40 p.m.
Rip me of my beauty until i rot, 769 critiques. said:
this is cool, i like this alot especially because its a weird way to think of death and everything i like it its darka nd interesting to read. great poem i loved it!
-amanda-
brattyhoe666 on Jun 09, 2004, 7:38 p.m.
it cant rain all the time...so smile sweet heart, 152 critiques. said:
thats really good. i like how you express how every one tries to become so consumed with life they forget about death alltogether. and i loved the way you refered to life as a drink. and talk about the way every one tries to spill the last drop. really good job.
Gothic pixie on Jun 21, 2004, 8:49 p.m.
You say you Love me, Is this Truly how you feel?, 514 critiques. said:
This is awsome i love how u refer life to a drink it is really good!! keep the righting i will read.
Kelly Sue on Jul 16, 2004
~~BEST WISHES IN ALL THAT YOU DO!!!!~~, 329 critiques. said:
very good I just love your wording and it is great keep it up
mindguru on Oct 17, 2004, 8:49 p.m.
Forever chasing unattainable hopes..., 203 critiques. said:
life as a drink...a neat comparison that Howells uses here. the last line just sort of brings the whole thing together. seeing the last drop of death, wishing it could be spilled. death is inevitable, and yet Howells calls to our very humanity. why this is classified as sad, i don't know. i find it very uplifting that life is like good liquor- i'll enjoy it while it lasts.
-mindguru
Razzia (email) on Oct 25, 2004, 6:43 p.m. said: (64.12.116.202)
I like how he compared life to a drink and while basically saying everyone dies he also says that life is good and worth living.
Fighting Death (email) on Nov 05, 2004, 9:00 p.m. said: (152.163.100.134)
loved the poem. it really made you think about life and, and how happens and no one can stop it.the analagy of the cup and how it siblizes life was awsome. altogether this poem was very deep. i enjoyed it greatly. (reply?)
[del? ]
Sexy87 on Feb 02, 2005, 7:01
, 38 critiques. said:
Good job I like this one too. very different but good.
lancep (email) on Mar 22, 2005, 5:42 p.m. said: (68.15.145.94)
I liked your poem. what else can i say?
Patricia13 on May 18, 2005, 12:26
, 3 critiques. said:
this is awsome keep writing and wait for death not for death to wait for you. (
Picky on May 20, 2005, 10:06 said: (213.18.248.24)
The use of couplets by Howells is highly accomplished in that the rhyme doesn't seem forced, as it so often does in less accomplished poems. The iambic pentameter carefully observed, which is slightly unusual in modern poetry, but makes the poem even more pleasuable to read; the subject is fascinating. A poem definately worth reading. Sorry to end on a negative note, but could people note that the author has been dead for more than ninety years before telling him to keep up the good work.
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