As slaughter holds a lamb,
as the lamb holds blood,
as blood holds iron,
as iron holds rust,
so this meaty corrosion
is held in your mouth
to be swallowed—
but before swallowing
to be caressed, air drawn
over your tongue, over
this shallow of scotch
in your jaw, as if the scent
walked on water, and yes,
let's speak of it that way,
God, Jesus, the holy spirit,
yes, let's worship in terms
of proof, age, thirty years
going on thirty-one,
Aberlour versus Glen,
Paul versus John,
let's assign the sharp,
the honeyed, let's give
the Baptists Oban—
loam, moss, peat,
let's talk of the ground,
let's lie on the ground,
let's talk about resurrection
and have another round,
let's talk for hours
before you sober up,
my darling, my disciple,
before you remember
how you spoke of oak
and sherry caskets, which
produced a better flavor,
and not one of your friends
asked if you meant cask.