Water or wine

There set two glasses, filled to the brim

On an old man's table, rim to rim.

One was water from the crystal flood.

Said the glass of wine to the paler brother

As they told their tales, the one to the other,

"I can tell of banquets, revel and mirth,

And the proudest and grandest souls on earth

That fall under my touch, as though struck by blight

Where I am monarch and rule in might;

From the heads of kings I have torn the crown,

From the height of fame I have hurled men down.

I have blasted many an honored name.

I have taken virtue and given shame.

I have made the arm of the driver fail

And sent the train from the iron rail.

I have made good ships go down at sea,

And the cries of the lost were sweet to me.

Ho, Ho, pale brother," laughed the glass of wine,

"Can you boast of deeds as great as mine?"

Said the glass of water, "I cannot boast

Of a king dethroned or a murder host,

But I can tell of a heart, once sad,

By my crystal drops make light and glad.

Of thirsts I've quenched and brows I've bathed,

Of hands I've cooled and souls I've saved.

I've slept in the sunshine and dropped from the sky,

And everywhere gladdened the landscape, and I,

I have eased the hot forehead of fever and pain;

I have made parched meadows grow fertile with grain.

I can tell of a powerful wheel of the mill

That ground out the flour and turned at my will.

I can tell of manhood debased by you

That I have lifted and crowned anew.

I cheer, I heal, I strengthen and aid,

I gladden the heart of man and mail.

I set the chained, wine captive free,

And all are better for knowing me."

These are the tales that told each other,

The glass of wine and t its paler brother,

As they sat together, filled to the brim

On the old man's table, rim to rim.