Cupbearer Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

Premium Member Don't Be a Hypocrite

... First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. 
      ~Matthew 7: 5 GNT


If you want to stop fascism 
check in the mirror,
make sure you're not the one
being cupbearer!

Echo in the valley of illusions

O cupbearer, fill my cup once more,
My beloved has left, taking my heart and dreams,
To roam the hills with the deer,
To delight them with my words and melodies.
To show them through my poems what my tongue cannot express,
I said, “O cupbearer, fill my cup with spiritual wine,
Upon parting with my beloved, I drink the bitter potion.”
Now he frolics with them near the valleys,
And I hum to the sound of breaking vessels,
To inhabit dreams built on my illusions.
Fill, O cupbearer, the cup until I forget my place,
Upon parting with my beloved, I got drunk until my eyes close,
So I forget who I am and who they are, even if it takes a while.
He has gone, leaving his mark on the memories of my times.

Premium Member Two Dreams

A three branched vine grows
Blossoms ripen into grapes
Pressed and placed in the king's hand
The branches are days
Your office will be restored
King's cupbearer as before

Three baskets on head
Top one has food for the king
Birds eat from bottommost one
The baskets are days
The king will lift up your head
And the birds will eat your flesh

—————

These are the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker, told to Joseph while they were all in prison. Since the sedoka is supposed to use 2 sets of 3 lines to look at the same thing in two different ways, I thought perhaps the dream and its interpretation might work. There's not much room to work with, though!

(From Genesis 40)


The Cup-Bearer's Thoughts

I serve with my heart, all
Your mountain must not fall
We meet servant and master
To run forward the faster

Your goal clearly defined
Mine too more refined
Leader and follower united now
To testify of forgiveness, the how

Why this unlikely pair?
Cause of a God just and fair
I serve before kings
Who drink of your wisdom things

I was a vessel empty, then
Now filled with your ken
They drink it in very slowly
The cupbearer thought he was most lowly

Handmaiden Cupbearer


Carry to the king full flagons of wine,
this is your handmaiden’s duty mercy divine
Free-flowing ambrosia nectar fruit
mixed with stolen, silk tears of satin soft slavery
Pear-shaped heartache plucked,
a yearning branch uprooted from the bloodline tree
Comely cupbearer of the golden chalice,
harem handmaiden — 
pleasure prisoner in an opulent palace
Captive crown seed royal body,
not regarded as a mere serving waif
Always regal are your movements,
no courtesan behavior do you display
Crimson hair chosen handmaiden,
innocent flame bearer of a fiery virgin heart
Bring the cup of delight 
to the king’s hand at his demand
Before his presence, he desires you to stand
Celestial clothed ... cerulean robed 
Chrysanthemum chosen handmaiden,
cupbearer of the vessel that portends divinity
Perform your duties with eunuch grace,
showing forth to the ruling princes, 
your unchained spirit of indomitable chastity

Shall I Crucify Your King

Saying unto her husband, have nothing to do with this just
Man for I suffered many things within a dream because of, Him..
Angels fall without You there ? Wondering what they these children
Thought when love's curtain it's veil rent; the heavens roared her earth
Quaked in trembling their, Spirits, fleeing for shelter crying unto Ancient's fiery
Gaze flames igniting time's, melting mountains ? Standing amid tomorrow's visions
Open arms embracing these barren branches; rushing winds this warmth lightning crashing ?
Cherubs weeping for joy chariots white robes sepulchers tombstones; imploding stars....
Zion, his cupbearer pleads; as her dagger bleeds a vintage creed ? Washing away perditions day.


Shock Tactics

It is silent
Neon sulphuric mustard gas
It is the snare
Spilling poison, dropped chalice
You are the cupbearer
Drinking your holy communion
From ashes to rubble

I remember you
The smiling tiger
Roaring to the pounce
Fiercely tugging at life caught
Between your polished claws
Until the wall fell and celebration
We were selling bricks in bin liners

You can get up off your knees now
The table would have killed you anyway.

Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.

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