Explore "Autumn Sunshine" by D.H. Lawrence on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
THE sun sets out the autumn crocuses / And fills them up a pouring measure / Of death-producing wine, till treasure / Runs waste down their chalices.
All, all Persephone's pale cups of mould / Are on the board, are over-filled; / The portion to the gods is spilled; / Now, mortals all, take hold!
The time is now, the wine-cup full and full / Of lambent heaven, a pledging-cup; / Let now all mortal men take up / The drink, and a long, strong pull.
Out of the hell-queen's cup, the heaven's pale wine-- / Drink then, invisible heroes, drink. / Lips to the vessels, never shrink, / Throats to the heavens incline.
And take within the wine the god's great oath / By heaven and earth and hellish stream / To break this sick and nauseous dream / We writhe and lust in, both.
Swear, in the pale wine poured from the cups of the queen / Of hell, to wake and be free / From this nightmare we writhe in, / Break out of this foul has-been.