Classic Poem

" LEARN to forget," the wise man said of old;
Learn to forget the cruel wiles of Fate:
Learn to forget the gods' remorseless hate;
Death comes apace, and soon the tale is told;
Then fill the wine-cup ere the blood be cold,
And, lapped in languorous beauty's soft caress,
Distil a potion of forgetfulness
From lips of coral and from locks of gold.

But thou shalt fill my wine-cup, and the wine
Shall be the joy and beauty of the earth:
I'll drink deep draughts of essences divine,
Of peace and truth and love and holy mirth:
What need I to forget? I see thee there,
And loving thee, shall find the whole earth fair.