Tell Me
By Rebecca Delgado-Rottman
Tell me something beautiful…
I have aged. Almost seventy!
But like a great bottle of red wine,
I have aged to perfection!
Extra-dry, big, bold, and full-bodied.
Seventy years of growing and maturing
The flavor continues to take shape
Nothing is guaranteed.
Seasons change.
From the intermittent rains in the winter
to the extreme heat in the summer
while the drought grips the area
The wildfires rage across into destruction.
We struggle to hold on.
To keep the way, it was.
To protect what we have built.
To survive. Only to start over again.
Nothing stays forever
But without a doubt,
There were raw, dark, and painful times.
With the bewilderment of actions and reactions,
All necessary for the new growth.
And finally, the happy times come,
The season to harvest
Picked, washed, and crushed with skin and all,
And protected in aFrench Oak barrel
For a lofty influence into maturity.
With a combination of Chemistry and Cooking,
Periodically testing and tasting.
Because some like it nutty,
Some like it earthy,
Some like it buttery,
And some like it oaky.
One must be patient as it takes a while to achieve
Just the right blend and balance
For the desired flavor to emerge.
We come out of the barrel
Poured into bottles
We are given a name and a label
Some are fancy and some are simple
But when the cork comes off
A bouquet explodes
To show the world the unique concoction.
Sprinkles of berries and rose
Aromas linger to the nose.
A scent of chamomile,
A taste of caramel,
A smooth finish till the end –
Do you want to hear something beautiful?
I have aged to perfection!
Extra-dry, big, bold, and full-bodied.
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