On Wine

Jude On Wine

The restaurant is crowded.

patrons in  elegant evening wear.

Seated at our reserved table

 the wine steward produces the wine list.

Suggestions are delivered

all at the top of the price list.

I take the small pour

in the crystal goblet

Seek its clarity

and sediment residue of it fine aging

Rolling it in my mouth

like harsh mouthwash eyes closed.

Seeking the nuances

of cherry fruit and apples

Repeated searches

for cork fragments and opacity

Against the white background

of a raised napkin

Older reds have

a pronounced orange tint on the cork.

The sense of smell

is critical of course taking the goblet

Swirling gently for fifteen seconds

catching a whiff of the

vaporized alcohol

for a rudimentary first impression.

Then nose deep in the glass

a full inhale to catch the

Impudence of oak citrus and flowers

from the home of the grape.

Finally to the mutual relief of my companions

The selection is made

and the Red nectar drank.

Causing a severe pain

in the bottom of my used

and abused credit card.

On reflection

it occurred to me later

in the middle of the night.

I was taking one expensive piss.