Drinking
Abraham Cowley
The thirsty earth soaks up the rain
And drinks, and gapes for drink again
The plants suck in the earth, and are
With constant drinking fresh and fair
The sea it'self, which one would think
Should have but little need of drink
Drinks ten thousand rivers up
So filled that they o'erflow the cup
The busy sun and one would guess
By's drunken, fiery face no less
Drinks up the sea, and when he's done
The moon and stars drink up the sun
They drink and dance by their own light
They drink and revel all the night
Nothing in nature's sober found
But an eternal health goes round
Fill up the bowl, then, fill it high
Fill all the glasses there, for why
Should every creature drink but I?
Why, man of morals, tell me why?