Thou, born to sip the lake or spring,

Or quaff the waters of the stream,

Why hither come on vagrant wing?—

Does Bacchus tempting seem—

Did he, for you, this glass prepare?—

Will I admit you to a share?

Did storms harass or foes perplex,

Did wasps or king-birds bring dismay—

Did wars distress, or labours vex,

Or did you miss your way?—

A better seat you could not take

Than on the margin of this lake.

Welcome!—I hail you to my glass:

All welcome, here, you find;

Here, let the cloud of trouble pass,

Here, be all care resigned.—

This fluid never fails to please,

And drown the griefs of men or bees.

What forced you here, we cannot know,

And you will scarcely tell—

But cheery we would have you go

And bid a glad farewell:

On lighter wings we bid you fly,

Your dart will now all foes defy.

Yet take not, oh! too deep a drink,

And in this ocean die;

Here bigger bees than you might sink,

Even bees full six feet high.

Like Pharoah, then, you would be said

To perish in a sea of red.

Do as you please, your will is mine;

Enjoy it without fear—

And your grave will be this glass of wine,

Your epitaph—a tear—

Go, take your seat in Charon’s boat,

We’ll tell the hive, you died afloat.

what anger in defiance
what sympathy in doubt
emotions steady try us
demanding every shout

what sympathy in doubt
what pleasure in our pain
demanding are our shouts
such hazardous terrain

what pleasure in our pain
mere thinness to our skin
such hazardous terrain
such unrelenting din

sheer thinness of our skin
the ruptures and the breaks
such unrelenting din
mistake after mistake

we rupture and we break
we stagger and we shine
mistake after mistake
inhabiting our minds

we stagger and we shine
we live our lives on spin
inhabiting our minds
and undermining limbs

we live our lives on spin
and thrive until we grieve
we undermine our limbs
then get the strength to leave

we thrive until we grieve
emotions steady try us
we get the strength. we leave.
what anger in defiance.