A Decanter of Madeira, Aged 86,
to George Bancroft, Aged 86, Greeting
by
Silas Weir Mitchell (1829-1914) |
 |
|
 GOOD Master, you and I were born
In "Teacup days" of
hoop and hood,
And when the silver cue hung down,
And
toasts were drunk, and wine was good;
When kin of
mine (a jolly brood)
From sideboards looked, and knew
full well
What courage they had given the beau,
How
generous made the blushing belle.
Ah me! what gossip
could I prate
Of days when doors were locked at dinners!
Believe me, I have kissed the lips
Of many pretty
saints�or sinners.
Lip service have I done, alack!
I don't repent, but come what may,
What ready lips, sir,
I have kissed,
Be sure at least I shall not say.
Two honest gentlemen are we,�
I Demi John, whole George
are you;
When Nature grew us one in years
She meant to
make a generous brew.
She bade me store for festal
hours
The sun our south-side vineyard knew;
To sterner
tasks she set your life,
As statesman, writer, scholar,
grew.
Years eighty-six have come and gone;
At last
we meet. Your health to-night.
Take from this board of
friendly hearts
The memory of a proud delight.
The
days that went have made you wise,
There 's wisdom in my
rare bouquet.
I 'm rather paler than I was;
And, on my
soul, you 're growing gray.
I like to think, when
Toper Time
Has drained the last of me and you,
Some
here shall say, They both were good,
The wine we drank,
the man we knew.
1886 |
By Silas Weir Mitchell (1829-1914)
Listed January 28, 2013 |
| This poem honors George
Bancroft, who is the father of American History. He was
also Secretary of the Navy when the Naval Academy in
Annapolis was established in 1845. And he wrote the
memorial address
on the life and character of Abraham Lincoln that he
delivered to both Houses of Congress of America at their
request. |
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