Kirsch

[Ande Grahn]

                     Its Only Cherry Brandy, Angel Mine
					"Ma voix aigre et fausse"   ~Paul Verlaine


   I'll tell you bluntly
    One last time:
  It's only maddening cherry brandy,
Angel mine.

  Where the Greeks saw just their raped
   Beauty's fame,
Through black holes at me there gaped
Nought but shame.

   But the Greeks hauled Helen home
  In their ships.
  Here a smudge of salty foam
Flecks my lips.

  What rubs my lips and leaves no trace?
   ---Vacancy.
What thrusts a V-sign in my face?
    ---Vagrancy.

  Quickly, wholly, or slowly as a snail,
    All the same,
  Mary angel, drink your cocktail,
    Down your wine.

  I'll tell you bluntly
    One last time:
  It's only maddening cherry brandy,
   Angel mine.

~~Osip Mandelstam  1931



--------------
   On 8 Mar 2008, at 07:52, [1]robinlandseadel at comcast.net wrote:

   Looks like we'll have to settle for an expanded history of Kirsch:
            Q: What is Kirsch?
            -------------
   Now clearly this evidence [the 22 who are being served] points to the
   T.W.I.T.S.
   I'll be expecting al least twenty responses to this fresh new  
evidence.
   Carry on!