if I could drain out all my feelings
and put them on the shelf
could I leave the cask unopened
sealed in the dark
fermenting
growing sour past their time
a bitter tang for one alone
unpleasant but accustomed
and coveted like a dragon
the good
the bad
the regretful
jealously
myself
and put them on the shelf
could I leave the cask unopened
sealed in the dark
fermenting
growing sour past their time
a bitter tang for one alone
unpleasant but accustomed
and coveted like a dragon
the good
the bad
the regretful
jealously
myself
or
from time to time
pull the cork
pour a glass
savor the nose
watch the legs run
mark it well
from front to back
risk sharing a unique vintage
of human provenance
never to be duplicated
but constantly renewed
and in turn
give of myself
authentically
to
the
last
drop
