The Literary Magnet/Series 1/Volume 4/You Ask a Song—You Bid Me Sing

by Anonymous

“YOU ASK A SONG—YOU BID ME SING.”

You ask a song—you bid me sing
Of beauty and of wine;
But themes like these demand a string
More sweet and blest than mine.
When hearts are young,
And yet unwrung
By Sorrow’s withering hand,
Then thoughts flow free,
And words of glee
Await the soul’s command:
But ask not me, the charms to sing
Of beauty and of wine;
For themes like these demand a string
More sweet and blest than mine.

There may be some, whose waning years
Have all the light of youth,—
Who smile away the tender tears
They’ve shed for parted truth.
But ne’er would I
From Memory fly,
However sad she be;
Nor e’er forget
A sun, though set,
That once gave joy to me:
Then ask me not, the charms to sing
Of beauty and of wine;
For themes like these demand a string
More sweet and blest than mine.