Weekly Sip: Beauty Queen & A Gimlet
Welcome to The Oasis, a collection of poetry tied to a dubious little dive bar in the midwest. The Weekly Sip shares poems from the collection, song recommendations and drink recipes - all pairing together less like a fine wine with Brie and more like a cheap shot of bourbon with stale peanuts. Cheers!
Song recommendation: “Sour Times” - Portishead
As the cliché goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This week’s sip introduces a beauty queen making an entrance and another patron in the background who knows what it’s like to fall on sour times.
Drink pairing: Gin or Vodka Gimlet
A gimlet is a fitting drink for this set of poems, addressing the obvious fact that some things found in the same setting can be quite different at their core. The traditional gimlet is made with gin, but can also be made with vodka (my personal preference). The gin version carries the floral notes of the spirit, while the vodka version offers a crisper, lime-forward cocktail.
2.5 ounces gin or vodka
3/4 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 ounce simple syrup
Shake the above withe ice then pour into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with lime wheel, sip and enjoy
Beauty Queen 7:38 p.m.
On her way to the city
she test runs black stilettos
at a crack in the floor.
Not a strand out of place
eyes painted with expensive confidence
defying less is more.
Every step forward
swings a bare shoulder
flirtatiously back.
Entertaining the afterwork crowd
she saunters across the floor
a celebrity on the track.
Back arched elegantly
slender neck turning chin
she rests her skirt on the barstool.
Knees closed, ankles crossed
she rests her elbow on the bar
in total control.
Cherry sin
glides over pursed lips
a wink to the bartender.
A gin and tonic for the road
a gin and tonic for preparedness
an awkward thought to render.
Elisabeth Mae
"Whore"
She grumbles
and takes her turn at the table
"Marty!"
She nudges
He takes his eyes away from her
"Damn"
She misses
8 ball goes in prematurely
"Beer"
She gestures
And calmly picks up her pack
"Light?"
She inquires
Men don't hear a sound
"Typical"
She exhales
They fail to see her once again
*Keep an eye out for next week’s sip, when the Beauty Queen makes her return.*
I finally have time to meet the beauty queen! Love these lines:
Every step forward
swings a bare shoulder
flirtatiously back
You have a real way with language! We have that in common....only mine is with foreign languages and your gift is the English language! 😂❤️😂