II.

The wormwood shrub its gall
Essentially doth give
To "ab" by which so many die.
For which so many live.

III.

Its color is sea-green.
And should you enter where
The blissful stimulant is sold.
You'll see green people there.

IV.

King DEATH no longer drenches
With "coal-black wine" his throttle.
But slakes the drouth of his awful mouth
With pulls at the _absinthe_ bottle.

V.

And why should we repine
At the poison that's in his cup,
Since the fools we can spare are everywhere
And "_ab_" will use them up?

VI.