Vin Blanc: Vintage 1971
Affection grows mature in hearts lined up
Beside each other like strong casks of wine.
The drink drawn off to fill some future cup
Is savored not for sweetness when we dine
On dishes which our memories have prepared
But for the tonic of its warm bouquet
Derived from sun and earthy things we’ve shared,
For cleansing certain aftertastes, for play
Of heat down deep–and for its mellow mood
Which helps us swallow problems with some grace.
It lets us look with love at what is good
While sipping at long pledges face to face.
We shared a wine from thirteen years before
And now it has a scar-white hint of sore.