Ginger and Blackberry. By Thomas M. McDade

I worked for painters, roofers

And landscapers and we hung

Out most at the Indian Lounge

Al stocked sixteen ounce

Bottles of Narragansett

Called Kingers that

You had to drink quickly 

To beat the warm as tit milk

Dredge at the bottom

My older ex-employers often

Gave the pint a boost with a shot

Of ginger brandy and I don’t know

If it was considered medicine 

Like the ale soda often touted so

I overheard no talk of a babe

With the G name they’d shared

I never tried it but did indulge

In the Blackberry sort and hell

With Gansett, chased it

Down the hatch by way of

Ballantine Ale never tried

The Scotch sharing that name

Causing a disturbance 

Was what the judge said

After my night in jail

I did a switcheroo on the old

Hair of the dog that bit me

Never heard of a mutt

Named Blackberry

Thomas M. McDade is a 74-year-old resident of Fredericksburg, VA, previously CT & RI.

He is a graduate of Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT.

McDade is twice a U.S. Navy Veteran serving ashore at the Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center, Virginia Beach, VA and at sea aboard the USS Mullinnix (DD-944) and USS Miller (DE / FF 1091).