"The Empty Quatrain" by Henry Van Dyke
A flawless cup: how delicate and fine
The flowing curve of every jewelled line!
Look, turn it up or down, 't is perfect still,--
But holds no drop of life's heart-warming wine.
The flowing curve of every jewelled line!
Look, turn it up or down, 't is perfect still,--
But holds no drop of life's heart-warming wine.
He graduated from Princeton University in 1873 and from Princeton Theological Seminary, 1877 and served as a professor of English literature at Princeton between 1899 and 1923. In 1908-09 Dr. van Dyke was an American lecturer at the University of Paris. By appointment of President Wilson he became Minister to the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 1913. He chaired the committee that wrote the first Presbyterian printed liturgy, The Book of Common Worship of 1906. Among his popular writings are the two Christmas stories, The Other Wise Man (1896) and The First Christmas Tree (1897).
This is a quatrain poem because it consist of four lines and alternating rhymes.
I think the poem is saying it doesn't matter how you look at the cup or turn it, the cup will always be perfect. It may not be good for use, but it is still nice to look at. I also think Dyke is implying the we are the cup and when we die we become lifeless, basically useless, but still nice to look at.
I chose this photo because it shows a perfect cup lying on its side. The glass may not be useful on its side, but it is still nice to look at and admire.