“A Holiday Pairing” in Anacreontic Verse

An Ancient Greek lyrical form, 20- to 30-lines with three to five syllables per line, often in homage to Dionysus.

Try sparkling wines
(Any), or a rich,
Saignée-style Rosé
With holiday ham,

Gewurztraminer,
Spätlese Riesling
To compliment spiced
Baked squash or yam.

Californians serve
Cold Dungeness crab
Warm butter with But-
tery 

And for gravitas
Beyond gravy with
Roast Turkey, prefer
An aged Cabernet.

Pour “Beau-Nouveau”! It
Has cran-raspberry,

Cherry, carbonic soft
Flavors; while deeper

Cru Beaujolais and
Pinot Noir proffer
Fruit with earth tones and
Mushroomy “savors”.

Bacon lardons with
Sprouts or sausage in
Your stuffing? Syrah
Isn’t too racy…

And if you grilled your
Bird “en barbecue”,
May we suggest a
Sangiovese?

Desserts! Bread Pudding?
Serve a Moscato
Dolce, Sauternes, or
Late Harvest SB;

Pumpkin pie with a
Riesling Auslese,
And mincemeat pie with
A Port LBV.

Bual (Madeira)
Or Colhieta (rare
vintage Tawny) with
Pecan Pie is best.

And Last: Coffee with
“Schlagobers”. Now sigh,
Collapse to the floor,
And moan. And digest.

Anacreon, (born Asia Minor, 6th Century BCE) was inspired by a variety of cultural and …supernatural undertones, often paying homage to Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine. His poems revolved around themes of love, infatuation, revelry, festivals, and observations of everyday life “…it’s fun to compose because its subject matter tends to combine everyday observations with supernatural themes and/or celebrations”. Poetry through the Ages, Robert Yehling.