SPLASH THE WINE

     by Angela Kissinger

i choked on the grapevine
till someone told me
its time to splash the wine and testify

well, merry old men blush scarlet red as carpet burn
or so i've noticed
never feeling a shred of guilt
as snow on the roof thickens

another ring forms 'round an early moon
splash the wine
enjoy a blazing hearth warm and bright
because you never know
when you should sit to drink a toast
or when its time to go

so, you splash your wine
with a heart beating on your sleeve
there's never any doubt

its snowing on my princess rags
in this dreamy tattered castle
floating free in iridescence
splashing wine on good advice
from ghosts in the attic up here

twisted and kinked
busted up in the favorite places
edges...strands...lilting imperfections
woven into lengthening shadows of twilight
splashing wine all over
recent memories of the last red red winter sunset
be sure to exit laughing

bootlaces break, phones go dead
an empty belly achingly groans out loud involuntarily
a radio crackles in and out from far far away
it's just what you needed anyway
splash the wine
however you happen to stop along the way
whatever shape you're in

your time will surely come to rise up
soon enough
without bondage of stiff, sloppy
earthly imperfections
on your day of days
without a stone of one's own
in hand to smash out all joy
shatter every peaceful image
you've ever found yourself unworthy of

so, splash the wine
with gusto and a hearty appetite
while that chalice still glows warm in your hand

hold close the fleeting
keep near this time of dreams
always, always splash the wine
at every opportunity