The Stirrup-Cup
From Wikisource
| The Stirrup-Cup by |
| Sidney Lanier composed this poem in 1877 while he was living in Tampa, Florida. A stirrup cup is a parting cup given by the Scottish Highlanders to guests when they are leaving and have their feet in the stirrups. |
Death, thou’rt a cordial old and rare:
Look how compounded, with what care!
Time got his wrinkles reaping thee
Sweet herbs from all antiquity.
David to thy distillage went,
Keats, and Gotama excellent,
Omar Khayyam, and Chaucer bright,
And Shakespeare for a king-delight.
Then, Time, let not a drop be spilt:
Hand me the cup whene’er thou wilt;
‘Tis thy rich stirrup-cup to me;
I’ll drink it down right smilingly.
