Serenade To An Empty Beer Bottle
(1966)

Yea, bottle blithe, how you do smile

 In all your empty splendour! 

My thirsty eyes look down on thee, 

The brown glass, oh so slender!

O bottle, if only you could talk,

Perhaps you'd maybe tell

How a mortal grabbed you by the neck, 

With intent his thirst to quell.

I hesitate upon the thought

Of being the inspector

Who sips the gods' most favourite drink, 

That sweet, delicious nectar.

But I cannot taste that wondrous drink.

'Cos nectar art not thou,

I hoped your belly would be full,

For 'tis beer I wish for now,

O gallant container, you're no use 

To me in your present way: 

So go, I pray, fill thyself up - 

And I'll be back another day.

S. NEWMAN, 3B