O, Why Will Ye Perish?
By Delwin Rees Buckner
ABOARD the sinking ship loud laughter reigns,
Rough, boist'rous revelry, 'mid flowing flask,
'Mid sparkling, bubbling bottle, uncorked cask,
And music's wild, intoxicating strains.
The shipwrecked crew, to dull the dying pains
That Death excites when she throws on her mask
Of dumb forgetfulness, now only ask
To plunge into the deep with maddened brains.
There is a world like these, whose thoughtless feet,
While merriment is deafening the air,
Go hurrying onward heedless to their graves.
O, who is there can idly hold his seat,
When choking cries of Death are everywhere,
And will not tell them of the One who saves?