This month’s third-Sunday poem is one that I enjoy reciting live, since it was composed to be a “slam poem” in traditional alliterative verse. And it’s in honor of one of my favorite drinks: Absinthe. The poem will probably be appearing in my forthcoming poetry collection that I’ve mentioned every now. Enjoy!
What is Absinthe?
What is absinthe? An emerald aperitif?
A wormwood wine? A welcome muse?
‘Tis all of these and also more.
It is Wormwood grand, a wizard of herbs,
and awesome Anise of excellent spirit,
and far-famed Fennel, a fortunate plant,
with other herbs—absinthe is this.
The proof is high in this potent brew,
but much more beyond is this mighty liquor.
To artists of old and honored poets,
‘twas a graceful angel of glorious inspiration,
a goddess of awe: the Green Fairy!
Picasso and Crowley had called to her;
Dowson and Degas were drinkers as well.
Though long her absence, absinthe’s returned!
You can’t keep her down, this crafty lady.
But is she alone, or allied this time?
What muses move with this mighty lass?
A few perhaps from famed Old Greece?
Or is it Óðrœrir, the awesome mead,
that tries this time to return to the world.
Seek and explore her spirit yourself.
Try and test her. Truly it’s easy.
Pour some Absinthe in an artful glass;
Then set a spoon with sucrose on top.
Carefully decant some cold ice water,
releasing the louche in this liquid poem.
Dazzling your eyes, the drink will change
from a clear emerald to a cloudy opal.
Such right ritual readies her gifts.
Approach with respect and proffer invocations
to welcome her spirit. Well remember
that always best is to offer yourself,
giving your ghost to her green embrace.
Then drink it deeply, this draught of poets;
like at mass commune with the muse’s spirit.
Clarity you’ll gain from her cloudy drink,
and maybe a glimpse of mysteries hidden,
as a sage once said, to see what’s wished,
to see what’s not, and to see what’s real.
In composing this poem, I poured her spirit,
drinking and draining draughts aplenty,
for knowing her well was needful deeply.
From that I say this simple advice:
seek the substance o’er the simple accidents,
and you just might find that joyful goddess:
the Green Fairy of glorious absinthe.
Copyright © 2023 Eirik Westcoat
The Skaldic Eagle 