the stuff people make nowadays
with store bought ingredients
and brewing
nowhere near as good
as grampa’s special recipe
immigrated with him
from Calabria

he kept the skins and pits
in the mix
while his concoction fermented
several months at a time
said it added to the potency
always red grapes
though uncertain what kind

one glass
and you were on your way
wine taste with a whiskey kick
don’t stand up too quickly
or you might lose your legs

a few years after he passed
dad and Uncle Fern
found a huge bottle of the stuff
at grandma's
fermenting in the basement
God knows how long
they carefully lugged it
up to the kitchen
to sample the unexpected find

popping the cork
uncle poured a little bit
into two glasses
the expression on their faces
told the rest of the story
confirming worst fears
the bottle had been sitting
far too long that

wine had turned to vinegar


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300 hits as of November 2024

08/22/2023