Song-Surf

Nirvana Days Yolanda of Cyprus A Night in Avignon Charles di Tocca David Many Gods
NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY MCMX ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THAT OF TRANSLATION INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, INCLUDING THE SCANDINAVIAN COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY PUBLISHED, SEPTEMBER, 1910
TO MY SISTERS
These poems, first published as Song-Surf in 1900, by a firm which failed before the book, left the press, were republished with additions as the lyrics of Plays & Lyrics, by Hodder & Stoughton, of London, in 1905. Revision and omissions have been made for this volume of a uniform edition in which they now appear.


I sat with Omar by the Tavern door, Musing the mystery of mortals o'er, And soon with answers alternate we strove Whether, beyond death, Life hath any shore.
Come, fill the cup, said he. In the fire of Spring Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling. The Bird of Time has but a little way To flutter—and the Bird is on the Wing.
The Bird of Time? I answered. Then have I No heart for Wine. Must we not cross the Sky Unto Eternity upon his wings—Or, failing, fall into the Gulf and die?
Ay; so, for the Glories of this World sigh some, And some for the Prophet's Paradise to come; But you, Friend, take the Cash—the Credit leave, Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!
What! take the Cash and let the Credit go? Spend all upon the Wine the while I know A possible To-morrow may bring thirst For Drink but Credit then shall cause to flow?
Yea, make the most of what you yet may spend, Before we too into the Dust descend; Dust into Dust, and under Dust, to lie, Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and—sans End!