By William Ernest Henley (1849-1903)
The Spirit of Wine
Sang in my glass, and I listened
With love to his odorous music,
His flushed and magnificent song.
“I am health, I am heart, I am life!
For I give for the asking
The fire of my father the Sun,
And the strength of my mother, the Earth
Inspiration in essence,
I am wisdom and wit to the wise,
his visible muse to the poet,
The soul of desire to the lover,
The genius of laughter to all.
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/together8/2954034349/sizes/l/in/photostream/)
Come, lean on me, ye that are weary!
Rise, ye faint-hearted and doubting!
Haste, ye that lag by the way!
I am Pride, the consoler,
Valour and Hope are my henchmen,
I am the Angel of Rest
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonjazz/2947718878/sizes/o/in/photostream/)
I am life, I am wealth, I am fame:
For I captain an army
Of shining and generous dreams;
And mine, too, all mine, are the keys
Of that secret spiritual shrine,
Where, his work-a-day soul puts by,
Shut in with his saint of saints-
With his radiant and conquering self-
Man worships, and talks, and is glad.
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/vigilant/1586816283/sizes/z/in/photostream/)
Come sit with me, ye that are lonely,
Ye that are paid with disdain,
Ye that are chained and would soar!
I am beauty and love;
I am friendship, the comforter;
I am that which forgives and forgets.”
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/minebilder/127118378/sizes/o/in/photostream/)
The Spirit of Wine
Sang in my heart, and I triumphed
In the savour and scent of his music,
His magnetic and mastering song.
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpeschetz/2228452449/sizes/o/in/photostream/)
