A glass of wine before I sup
fate declared this was so
what came after mattered not
delight taken by kismet’s hand
the meal became an afterthought
tasteless shifting to bitterness
once foretold by liquid's drought
now inevitable on table's top
if only the chalice could bypass
lips once born of innocence
before learning spoiled the mind
defiled by crystal of circumstance
knowing nothing except for bliss
before the turn of the years
to the table the youth are led
betrayed by bottle loosely tipped
now I’m left with a feast
disallowing what I may eat
while I starve by liquor’s fault
the succor given by the gods
intoxicating by all measures
sadly I’m beyond this pleasure
what came before mattered not
beverage robbed food’s repast.
© 2018. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20180709.
Jul 9, 2018
Jul 9, 2018 at 8:22 PM UTC
A glass of wine before I sup
fate declared this was so
what came after mattered not
delight taken by kismet’s hand
the meal became an afterthought
tasteless shifting to bitterness
once foretold by liquid's drought
now inevitable on table's top
if only the chalice could bypass
lips once born of innocence
before learning spoiled the mind
defiled by crystal of circumstance
knowing nothing except for bliss
before the turn of the years
to the table the youth are led
betrayed by bottle loosely tipped
now I’m left with a feast
disallowing what I may eat
while I starve by liquor’s fault
the succor given by the gods
intoxicating by all measures
sadly I’m beyond this pleasure
what came before mattered not
beverage robbed food’s repast.
© 2018. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20180709.
The poem “A Glass of Wine” was begun as an attempt to explore the biblical line, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” The end result appears to be about loss of innocence, temptation, loss of joy, and addiction.
Request permission to use this poem