Ah! How I Would Quaff The Red, Red Wine! Poem by Emmanuel George Cefai

Ah! how would I quaff the red, red wine
That brimming in the golden cup
Shines in the moon light to-night:
My thirst is deep and deep as a cool well
That unto earth’s entrails full stretches
Such is my thirst: I would a flagon drink
And then one after other in full train
Would I quaff rapid as in the oasis green
When welcome foods and shades arise midst burning sands:
Ah! this thirst is nothing to my thirst for love!
My heart is torn and the more torn the more
Will it need love to requite it and breathe!

And in this night I would I would I drink
A whole long welcome full river of love
And feel it cooling and hiss serpent-like
Gurgling stream-like burning my throat.