And is it not a gesture grand
To drink oneself to death?
Oh sure ’tis I can understand,
Being of sober breath.
And so I do not sing success,
But dirge the damned who fall,
And who contempt for life express
Through alcohol.
Of Stephen Foster and of Poe,
Of Burns and Wilde I think;
And weary men who dared to go
The wanton way of drink.
Strange mortals blind to bitter blame,
And deaf to loud delight,
Who from the shades of sin and shame
Enstar our night.
Among those dupes of destiny
Add D.T. to my list,
Although his verse you may agree
Leaves one in mental mist . . .
Oh ye mad poets, loth of life,
Who peace in death divine,
Pass not by pistol, poison, knife,–
Drown, drown in wine!
(Robert William Service)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, Life Poems, Night Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Success Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Literature Poems, Sin Poems, Wine Poems, Poets Poems, Alcohol PoemsBased on Keywords: wilde, foster, oneself, poe, dupes