I have sipped, with drooping lashes, br Dreamy draughts of Verzenay; br I have flourished brandy-smashes br In the wildest sort of way; br I have joked with 'Tom and Jerry' br Till wee hours ayont the twal'-- br But I've found my tea the very br Safest tipple of them all! br br 'Tis a mystical potation br That exceeds in warmth of glow br And divine exhilaration br All the drugs of long ago-- br All of old magicians' potions-- br Of Medea's filtered spells-- br Or of fabled isles and oceans br Where the Lotos-eater dwells! br br Though I've reveled o'er late lunches br With blase dramatic stars, br And absorbed their wit and punches br And the fumes of their cigars-- br Drank in the latest story, br With a cock-tail either end,-- br I have drained a deeper glory br In a cup of tea, my friend. br br Green, Black, Moyune, Formosa, br Congou, Amboy, Pingsuey-- br No odds the name it knows--ah! br Fill a cup of it for me! br And, as I clink my china br Against your goblet's brim, br My tea in steam shall twine a br Fragrant laurel round its rim.