the holy grail
that cup of old
is this it before us now?
Who dares to touch?
Who dares to hold?
Who dares the story to retell?
of how red wine
fresh full-bodied wine
was passed
hand to mouth
mouth to hand
as a sign of a hope
that had only ever been dreamed of

a hope battered by the storms of time
a hope shattered by ages long gone
and yet still hanging there
waiting to be grasped
waiting to be held
close to the heart

copyright ashyvicar 1992 re-discoverd and mildly amended 2019