The Two Glasses
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
1850 to 1919
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There sat two glasses filled to the brim
On rich man's table, rim to rim,
One was ruddy red as blood,
And one was clear as the flood.
Said the Glass of Wine to his brother:
"Let us tell tales of the past to other;
I can tell of banquet and revel and mirth,
Where I was king, for I ruled in might;
the proudest and grandest souls of earth
Fell under touch, as though struck with blight.
From the heads kings I have torn the crown;
From the heights fame I have hurled men down.
I have blasted an honored name;
I have taken virtue and given shame;
I have tempted youth with a sip, a taste,
has made his future a barren waste.
Far greater any king am I,
Or than any army beneath sky.
I have made the arm of the driver fail,
And sent the train from the iron rail.
I made good ships go down at sea,
And the of the lost were sweet to me.
Fame, strength, wealth, genius before me fall;
And my might and power over all!
Ho, ho, pale brother," said the Wine,
"Can you boast of deeds as great as mine?"
Said the Water Glass: "I cannot boast
Of king dethroned, or a murdered host;
But I can of hearts that were sad,
By my crystal drops bright and glad;
Of thirsts I have quenched and I have laved,
Of hands I have cooled, and I have saved.
I have leaped through the valley, down the mountain,
Slipped from the sunshine, and dripped the fountain,
I have burst my cloud-fetters, and dropped the sky,
And everywhere gladdened the prospect and eye;
have eased the hot forehead of fever and pain,
have made the parched meadows grow fertile with grain.
can tell of the powerful wheel of the mill,
ground out the flour, and turned at my will.
can tell of manhood debased by you
That I uplifted and crowned anew;
I cheer, I help, I and aid,
I gladden the heart of man and maid;
I set the wine-chained captive free,
And all are for knowing me."
These are the tales told each other,
The Glass of Wine, and its brother,
As they sat together, filled to the brim,
a rich man's table, rim to rim.