Poem: Bitters, Twisted"
Jan. 8th, 2021 09:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis poem came out of the January 5, 2021 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by ng_moonmoth. It also fills the "Surprise" square in my 1-3-21 card for the Fresh Starts Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the series One God's Story of Mid-Life Crisis.
"Bitters, Twisted"
Belfegar came up to Shaeth and
bowed. "An offering, My Lord."
Shaeth looked at the offering.
The liquid in the glass
was bright pink, and
a spiral of yellow fruit
dangled over the edge.
Curious, he tasted it,
and the bright flavors
blossomed on his tongue,
each one popping in turn
like a string of tiny bubbles,
finishing with a bitter note
that was strangely satisfying.
"This good," Shaeth said, surprised.
He drank some more of the stuff.
"This is really, really good.
How is this so delicious?"
"I made it in celebration of
the new temple," said Belfegar.
"I thought we could branch out
and let each temple develop
its own specialty of some sort."
"I heartily approve of that idea,"
said Shaeth, who loved
sampling new booze.
"This is different than
anything I've had before."
"So ... remember when I kept
praying to you every few minutes?"
Belfegar said, tilting his head.
"Were you drunk-praying me
again?" Shaeth demanded.
"No -- well, yes, it did
start out that way, but
then it turned into
something else,"
Belfegar said.
"Oh?" said Shaeth.
"I switched between
praying to you and to
Abredin the Herb Goddess,"
said Belfegar. "I combined
alcohols and herbs to make
bitters, then mixed the bitters
with other things to make this."
"It worked," Shaeth said,
and drained his glass.
"It doesn't always work,"
Belfegar admitted. "Some
of the attempts have been
awful. But the good ones
are really memorable."
"I am pleased," said Shaeth.
"What is this thing, anyway?"
"I call it a cocktail," Belfegar said,
pointing to the twist of lemon.
"See, like rooster feathers."
"So be it," Shaeth declared.
* * *
Notes:
Bitters are blends of alcohol and herbs with a strong taste. They are used to enhance the flavor of mixed drinks, baked goods, and other things. They come in many varieties. You can make your own bitters.
Cocktails are mixed drinks. They may contain a mix of alcohols, juices, bitters, and other ingredients.
There are many pink cocktails.
The featured cocktail is similar to a Sazerac but adds raspberry juice to make it lighter, sweeter, bigger, and pinker.
ng_moonmoth. It also fills the "Surprise" square in my 1-3-21 card for the Fresh Starts Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the series One God's Story of Mid-Life Crisis. "Bitters, Twisted"
Belfegar came up to Shaeth and
bowed. "An offering, My Lord."
Shaeth looked at the offering.
The liquid in the glass
was bright pink, and
a spiral of yellow fruit
dangled over the edge.
Curious, he tasted it,
and the bright flavors
blossomed on his tongue,
each one popping in turn
like a string of tiny bubbles,
finishing with a bitter note
that was strangely satisfying.
"This good," Shaeth said, surprised.
He drank some more of the stuff.
"This is really, really good.
How is this so delicious?"
"I made it in celebration of
the new temple," said Belfegar.
"I thought we could branch out
and let each temple develop
its own specialty of some sort."
"I heartily approve of that idea,"
said Shaeth, who loved
sampling new booze.
"This is different than
anything I've had before."
"So ... remember when I kept
praying to you every few minutes?"
Belfegar said, tilting his head.
"Were you drunk-praying me
again?" Shaeth demanded.
"No -- well, yes, it did
start out that way, but
then it turned into
something else,"
Belfegar said.
"Oh?" said Shaeth.
"I switched between
praying to you and to
Abredin the Herb Goddess,"
said Belfegar. "I combined
alcohols and herbs to make
bitters, then mixed the bitters
with other things to make this."
"It worked," Shaeth said,
and drained his glass.
"It doesn't always work,"
Belfegar admitted. "Some
of the attempts have been
awful. But the good ones
are really memorable."
"I am pleased," said Shaeth.
"What is this thing, anyway?"
"I call it a cocktail," Belfegar said,
pointing to the twist of lemon.
"See, like rooster feathers."
"So be it," Shaeth declared.
* * *
Notes:
Bitters are blends of alcohol and herbs with a strong taste. They are used to enhance the flavor of mixed drinks, baked goods, and other things. They come in many varieties. You can make your own bitters.
Cocktails are mixed drinks. They may contain a mix of alcohols, juices, bitters, and other ingredients.
There are many pink cocktails.
The featured cocktail is similar to a Sazerac but adds raspberry juice to make it lighter, sweeter, bigger, and pinker.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-01-09 04:40 am (UTC)Yes ...
Date: 2021-01-09 04:46 am (UTC)Re: Yes ...
Date: 2021-01-09 05:05 am (UTC)'course, if your booze goes "bad", then you can make shrubs...
(no subject)
Date: 2021-01-09 10:42 am (UTC)And thus the Clerical Class of Mixologist was created...
Yes ...
Date: 2021-01-09 07:24 pm (UTC)Shaeth must have some interesting specializations among his followers. We've already seen one failed attempt at becoming a Brewer, who got handed off to Desdemona instead. So let's see ...
Brewer of Libations -- a creator of liquor in any form
Campfire Cook -- a specialist in properly cooked offerings and booze-infused foodstuffs
Cantor of Carousing -- one who makes, performs, and leads drinking songs and other prayers
Clerical Caregiver -- a expert in healing spells and practical care of drunks in distress
Drunken Brawler -- a remnant of Shaeth's earlier days, one who uses bestowed power to wreak havoc at his command
Mystical Mixologist -- one who takes the Brewer's products and turns them into new and delicious drinks
Priest of the Green -- favored of both Shaeth and Abredin, a master of herbs for intoxication and relief of consequences
Spirited Exorcist -- one who deals with bottle demons, poppy demons, etc.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2021-01-09 09:05 pm (UTC)Re: Yes ...
Date: 2021-01-09 09:14 pm (UTC)They can probably solve the problem simply by connecting the temples with local taverns, beermongers, vintners, etc. in a network for mutual support.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2021-01-09 09:51 pm (UTC)That's another thing that could probably be set straight fairly quickly with appropriate penitence and penance at the local Temple.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2021-01-09 11:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-01-09 03:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-01-09 08:57 pm (UTC)And adding more-complex and more-nourishing elements, with superior taste and presentation, is a great way to savor a small amount of something rather than guzzle it or avoid it entirely... in keeping with the ironic-sounding yet perfectly apropos theme of temperance in the stories about the God of Drunks.
Thoughts
Date: 2021-01-09 09:08 pm (UTC)Yep. Tour the temples, try them all!
Eventually the other gods are going to notice. "Hey, how come your pilgrims never fuck off in the middle of a pilgrimage?"
"Because each of my temples has a different booze menu, and my pilgrims want to try them all."
>> And adding more-complex and more-nourishing elements, with superior taste and presentation, is a great way to savor a small amount of something rather than guzzle it or avoid it entirely... <<
That is true.
>> in keeping with the ironic-sounding yet perfectly apropos theme of temperance in the stories about the God of Drunks. <<
The key to Shaeth's sphere of influence is that it's supportive rather than prescriptive. He provides what drunks need, whether that is help drinking less or hangover cures the morning after.