| Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (1869–1948). The Little Book of Modern Verse. 1917. |
| |
| 20. Bacchus |
| | | By Frank Dempster Sherman |
| |
| |
| LISTEN to the tawny thief, | |
| Hid beneath the waxen leaf, | |
| Growling at his fairy host, | |
| Bidding her with angry boast | |
| Fill his cup with wine distilled | 5 |
| From the dew the dawn has spilled: | |
| Stored away in golden casks | |
| Is the precious draught he asks. | |
| |
| Who,—who makes this mimic din | |
| In this mimic meadow inn, | 10 |
| Sings in such a drowsy note, | |
| Wears a golden-belted coat; | |
| Loiters in the dainty room | |
| Of this tavern of perfume; | |
| Dares to linger at the cup | 15 |
| Till the yellow sun is up? | |
| |
| Bacchus ’t is, come back again | |
| To the busy haunts of men; | |
| Garlanded and gaily dressed, | |
| Bands of gold about his breast; | 20 |
| Straying from his paradise, | |
| Having pinions angel-wise,— | |
| ’T is the honey-bee, who goes | |
| Reveling within a rose! | |
| |
|
|
|
