Red Wine Weather

It’s Easter. Another first without my Dad.  It is cold out today but the sun is shining and after a really fun night out with my buds at The Carleton, I woke up lucid and refreshed, ready for coffee and some writing. I am longing for my family today though. I suppose that is a direct reaction of it being the first Easter without Dad. I wish we were together somewhere eating dinner and spending time. I can’t even recall the last time we were all in the same place for a happy occasion. Makes me sad but I know wherever they all are today, they are happy and doing what they want to be doing. I wish that for each of them. Always.

So, the writing: I brewed myself a fragrant cup of Joe, set my playlist, donned my headphones and went to it. Somewhere on the interwebs, I once heard Joel Plaskett say something about ‘red wine weather’. I promptly wrote it down in my notebook because the bones of a poem immediately appeared in my noodle. Today’s mission was to organize those thoughts. I love how a phrase can inspire a piece of work, whether it is a poem or a song or a feature film. Inspiration can crop up at any time. Grateful to JP for uttering .. er .. typing the words.

The poem, ‘Red Wine Weather’ is an ode to some of my favorite things: wine, art, experience, longing and indifference.  Sarcasm intended.

Check it:

Red Wine Weather

I lay here beside you

beside myself in reminiscence

this red wine weather has me

exercising my right to sullen art

on spindrift wages of ambition

                     

I lay here beside you                  

beside myself in rumination

sipping a ruby red merlot reciting the

calmness of your sleeping expression

overwhelmed by the crimson bouquet

the complex layers of plump bing cherries

fragrant baked plums pressed into hints of mocha

it is delicate, almost luxurious in texture and truth

its staying power pursed in long raspberry

and cocoa powder finish            

I lay here beside you

beside myself in trepidation

this red wine weather has me

staying still despite my artfulness

heavy and gold in its bountiful harvest

sipping sipping and then you sigh

**

However and with whomever you spend your day with, be kind and grateful.

Happy Easter, friends. And, a happy Easter to you Dad. Give my love to the stars.

In propinquity,

Nic