| Andrew Macphail, comp. The Book of Sorrow. 1916. | | | XXIV. Bitter Sorrow
The Marriage Feast | | By Andrew Macphail (1864–1938) |
| | | I, FROM whose heart young Love is long time gone | |
| Beyond recall,—and in his secret place | |
| Dull Sorrow soothes with sad, averted face | |
| Her restless sister Pain with visage wan, | |
| Handmaidens of the shadow-footed One | 5 |
| Who comes more slowly than the season’s pace | |
| Creeping around the year,—I wish you grace, | |
| As you stand glorious in life’s morning sun. | |
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| Your blood-red lips are eager at the brim | |
| Of that deep cup, now amply poured for you. | 10 |
| Drink with closed eyes, nor look upon the lees | |
| They only quaff whose joys are memories. | |
| Drink of the bubbles sparkling at the rim, | |
| The dregs are bitter, and your hours are few. | | | | |
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