Has your soul sipped <br />Of the sweetness of all sweets? <br />Has it well supped <br />But yet hungers and sweats? <br /> <br />I have been witness <br />Of a strange sweetness, <br />All fancy surpassing <br />Past all supposing. <br /> <br />Passing the rays <br />Of the rubies of morning, <br />Or the soft rise <br />Of the moon; or the meaning <br />Known to the rose <br />Of her mystery and mourning. <br /> <br />Sweeter than nocturnes <br />Of the wild nightingale <br />Or than love's nectar <br />After life's gall. <br /> <br />Sweeter than odours <br />Of living leaves, <br />Sweeter than ardours <br />Of dying loves. <br /> <br />Sweeter than death <br />And dreams hereafter <br />To one in dearth <br />Or life and its laughter. <br /> <br />Or the proud wound <br />The victor wears <br />Or the last end <br />Of all wars. <br /> <br />Or the sweet murder <br />After long guard <br />Unto the martyr <br />Smiling at God; <br /> <br />To me was that smile, <br />Faint as a wan, worn myth, <br />Faint and exceeding small, <br />On a boy's murdered mouth. <br /> <br />Though from his throat <br />The life-tide leaps <br />There was no threat <br />On his lips. <br /> <br />But with the bitter blood <br />And the death-smell <br />All his life's sweetness bled <br />Into a smile.<br /><br />Wilfred Owen<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/has-your-soul-sipped/
