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Famous Wine Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Wine poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous wine poems. These examples illustrate what a famous wine poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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Each mouthful of wine which the cupbearer pours into

by Omar Khayyam
Each mouthful of wine which the cupbearer pours into
the cup helps to extinguish the fire of anger in thy burning
eyes. Has it not been said, O great God, that wine
is an elixir which drives from the heart a hundred sorrows
that oppress it?
326...Read more of this...

We who give ourselves up to the will of wine offer

by Omar Khayyam
We who give ourselves up to the will of wine offer
with joy our souls in holocaust to the laughing lips of
the juice divine. Oh! rapturous sight! Our cup-bearer
holds in one hand the neck of the flask and in the other
the cup overflowing, as if inviting us to receive the
purest of the blood!...Read more of this...

When I take in my hand a cup of wine and, in the

by Omar Khayyam
When I take in my hand a cup of wine and, in the
joy of my soul, become intoxicate, then, in that state of
fire which devours me, I see a hundred miracles grow
real, and words, clear as the most limpid water, come to
explain the mystery of all things.
283...Read more of this...

It is we who buy old wine and new wine, and it is we

by Omar Khayyam
It is we who buy old wine and new wine, and it is we
who sell the world for two grains of barley. Know where
you will go after death? Bring me some wine and go
where you will....Read more of this...

Wine, which the wise man knows how to appreciate,

by Omar Khayyam
Wine, which the wise man knows how to appreciate,
is for me the water of life and I its prophet am. It is
balm for the heart, an elixir which fortifies the soul.
Has God Himself not said: The benefits of the human
race are found in wine....Read more of this...

What belongs to youth is wine, the limpid juice of the

by Omar Khayyam
What belongs to youth is wine, the limpid juice of the
vine and the society of beauty; and since water once
brought ruin to this world by annihilating it, it is our
part to drown ourselves in wine, to pass our life in
drunkenness complete....Read more of this...

I drink wine, and those who are opposed to it come

by Omar Khayyam
I drink wine, and those who are opposed to it come
from the left and from the right to ask me to abstain
from it, because, say they, wine is an enemy of religion.
But, for that very reason I would drink it, now that I
hold myself an adversary of faith, because we are permitted
by God to drink the blood of an enemy....Read more of this...

I would drink so much wine that the odor should come

by Omar Khayyam
I would drink so much wine that the odor should come
out of the earth when I have been returned to it, and
that drinkers who wish to visit my tomb may fall
senseless from the sole effect of this odor....Read more of this...

Bringing in the Wine

by Li Bai
See how the Yellow River's water move out of heaven.
Entering the ocean,never to return.
See how lovely locks in bright mirrors in high chambers,
Though silken-black at morning, have changed by night to snow.
... Oh, let a man of spirit venture where he pleases
And never tip his golden cup empty toward the moon!
Since heaven gave the talent, let it be employed!
Spin a...Read more of this...

Though I drink wine, I am no libertine,

by Omar Khayyam
Though I drink wine, I am no libertine,
Nor am I grasping, save of cups of wine;
I scruple to adore myself, like you;
For this cause to wine-worship I incline....Read more of this...

If I drink wine 'tis not for mere desire; nor for the

by Omar Khayyam
If I drink wine 'tis not for mere desire; nor for the
rousing of the mob or insult to the Faith. No, 'tis for a
passing knowledge of relief from self. No other motive
could enwreath the cup....Read more of this...

Give Me Women Wine and Snuff

by John Keats
 GIVE me women, wine, and snuff 
Untill I cry out "hold, enough!" 
You may do so sans objection 
Till the day of resurrection: 
For, bless my beard, they aye shall be 
My beloved Trinity....Read more of this...

O limpid wine, wine full of sheen! Fool that I am, I'd

by Omar Khayyam
O limpid wine, wine full of sheen! Fool that I am, I'd
drink thee in such quantity, that all perceiving me from
far would my identity confound with thine, and say to
me: O master wine! tell me, whence do you come?...Read more of this...

Parting at a Wine-shop in Nan-king

by Li Po
 A wind, bringing willow-cotton, sweetens the shop,
And a girl from Wu, pouring wine, urges me to share it.
With my comrades of the city who are here to see me off;
And as each of them drains his cup, I say to him in parting,
Oh, go and ask this river running to the east
If it can travel farther than a friend's...Read more of this...

Amidst the Flowers a Jug of Wine

by Li Po
 Amidst the flowers a jug of wine, 
I pour alone lacking companionship. 
So raising the cup I invite the Moon, 
Then turn to my shadow which makes three of us. 
Because the Moon does not know how to drink, 
My shadow merely follows the movement of my body. 
The moon has brought the shadow to keep me company a...Read more of this...

Wine-houses flourish through this thirst of mine,

by Omar Khayyam
Wine-houses flourish through this thirst of mine,
Loads of remorse weigh down this back of mine;
Yet, if I sinned not, what would mercy do?
Mercy depends upon these sins of mine....Read more of this...

Now bring me dancers, wine, and a houri with charming,

by Omar Khayyam
Now bring me dancers, wine, and a houri with charming,
ravishing features—if houris there be. Or find a
beautiful brook within a green ravine, if such there be.
Ask nothing better; think no more of Hell's hot penalties,
for, verily, none is, nor any Paradise more fair than
that I sing, if Paradise there be....Read more of this...

Thou that drinkest not wine shouldst not for this reason

by Omar Khayyam
Thou that drinkest not wine shouldst not for this reason
blame the drunkard, for I am ready to renounce God,
myself, should He order me to renounce wine. Thou
glorifiest thyself for not drinking wine, but such glory
but ill befits those who commit acts a hundredfold more
reprehensible than drunkenness.
282...Read more of this...

One draught of wine outweighs the realm of Tus,

by Omar Khayyam
One draught of wine outweighs the realm of Tus,
Throne of Kobad and crown of Kai Kawus;
Sweeter are sighs that lovers heave at morn,
Than all the groanings zealot breasts produce....Read more of this...

The Wine-Cup is Circling

by Thomas Moore
 The wine-cup is circling in Almhin's hall,
And its Chief, 'mid his heroes reclining, 
Looks up, with a sigh to the trophied wall, 
Where his sword hangs idly shining. 
When, hark, that shout 
From the vale without -- 
"Arm ye quick, the Dane, the Dane is nigh!" 
Every Chief starts up 
From his foaming cup, 
And "To battle, to battle!"...Read more of this...

In truth wine is a spirit thin as air,

by Omar Khayyam
In truth wine is a spirit thin as air,
A limpid soul in the cup's earthen ware;
No dull, dense person shall be friend of mine
Save wine-cups, which are dense and also rare....Read more of this...

O my heart! drink of wine, drink of it in a garden

by Omar Khayyam
O my heart! drink of wine, drink of it in a garden
and enjoy the presence of thy friend [the Divinity]; renounce
hypocrisy and show. Is it the doctrine of Ahmed
you follow? In that case, draw from the fountain-head
a cup of wine into the bowl which Ali, in his round of
cupbearing, shall serve....Read more of this...

So long as I possess two maunds of wine,

by Omar Khayyam
So long as I possess two maunds of wine,
Bread of the flower of wheat, and mutton chine,
And you, O Tulip cheek, to share my hut,
Not every Sultan's lot can vie with mine....Read more of this...

Am I a wine-bibber? What if I am?

by Omar Khayyam
Am I a wine-bibber? What if I am?
Gueber or infidel? Suppose I am?
Each sect miscalls me, but I heed them not,
I am my own, and, what I am, I am....Read more of this...

Man is a cup, his soul the wine therein,

by Omar Khayyam
Man is a cup, his soul the wine therein,
Flesh is a pipe, spirit the voice within;
O Khayyam, have you fathomed what man is?
A magic lantern with a light therein!
264...Read more of this...

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