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Dunbar

 

Paul Laurence Dunbar
1872-1906

"At the Tavern"
(1903)

 

A lilt and a swing,
And a ditty to sing,
Or ever the night grow old;
The wine is within,
And I'm sure t'were a sin
For a soldier to choose to be cold,
         my dear,
For a soldier to choose to be cold.

We're right for a spell,
But the fever is – well,
No thing to be braved, at least;
So bring me the wine;
No low fever in mind,
For a drink is more kind than a priest,
         my dear,
For a drink is more kind than a priest.

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