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Excerpt from "Dining"
by
Edward Robert Lytton Bulwer-Lytton


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We may live without poetry, music, and art;
We may live without conscience, and live without heart;
We may live without friends; we may live without books;
But civilised man cannot live without cooks.
He may live without books, — what is knowledge but grieving?
He may live without hope, — what is hope but deceiving?
He may live without love, — what is passion but pining?
But where is the man who can live without dining?


From Lucile, Poems of Sentiment: II. Life, Dining
This poem is in the public domain.

 

 


Edward Robert Lytton Bulwer-Lytton (1831 -1891), who wrote under the name Owen Meredith, was a British diplomat and poet. Viceroy of India at one point, and ambassador to France after that, his poetry was much more popular than his politics. He grew up in a tempestuous household (both parents were very successful novelists; Edward's father originated the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night"), but seems to have found peace in his own marriage and family life.

 


Post New Comment:
Quaid-Uz-Zaman:
'We cannot live without dining but after dining we need poetry,music and art to live properly'. A marvellous poem for the day.
Posted 12/06/2020 03:15 AM
Anastasia:
My "when I'm rich" dreams have always started with, "First, I shall hire a cook". Excellent choice for today, Jayne�thank you!
Posted 12/05/2020 05:16 PM
Mama Goose:
I love it. In my family we are always excusing our need for 'comfort food.'
Posted 12/05/2020 01:28 PM
KevinArnold:
Great poetry and biography, Jayne. Of course his name is a poem in itself.
Posted 12/05/2020 01:05 PM
mail@schoolbusmart.com:
Bravo! Bravo! A refining edition of a dining rendition. Makes me hungry now. Randy
Posted 12/05/2020 10:41 AM
michael escoubas:
How up-to-date is this? I'm going now to make a white sauce and add hard-boiled eggs to serve over lightly butter toast. Thanks Edward.
Posted 12/05/2020 09:11 AM


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