The Indian Weed

This Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night,       Shows thy decay,—       All flesh is hay:   Thus think, and drink 1 tobacco. The pipe, so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak;       Thou art e’en such,—       Gone with a touch:   Thus think, and drink tobacco. And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity       Of worldly stuff,—       Gone with a puff:   Thus think, and drink tobacco. And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin;       For then the fire       It does require:   Thus think, and drink tobacco. And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say       That to the dust       Return thou must:   Thus think, and drink tobacco. Note 1. The current phrase for smoking, in the XVII. Century. [back]