William Maxwell (1784–1857)

GIVE me, give here my tea;

Ladies’ nectar! give it me;

Sweet as what the Hummer sips,

Or the dew on Beauty’s lips.

Tea ’t is makes the spirits flow,

Tickles up the heart of wo,

Sets the tongue, enlivens wit,

Gives the sweet poetic fit.

Tea ’t is makes the charming fair

Sprightly, pleasing, as they are.

What is more than all, ’t was Tea,

Tea, that set Columbia free.