Monday, January 27, 2025

Oh Fernet By Ben Gladnikoff


The city of San Francisco  

Drinks more Fernet 

Every year 

Than the country of Italy


He said for the 15th time 

As the bitter brown liquid 

Ran down my throat


The herbs express a longing sense for the Milanese skyline


Or is it for the sweepings of the factory floor

When it comes knocking on your door 

asking if you want some more


Baby, you know I adore you, but can we take it slow? 


Two by two is my preferred rate

Three works as well

But once we get to six


You better treat me kind because you know i’ll be sick


Don’t worry though

I’ll soon be back

Woah

That one went down and brought some friends back to say hi


Ok brother, here I am 

Pour me another 

Who’s keeping score

Italy San Francisco

Forty oh


My old bartender

In the club where I grew up

Had the logo tattooed

On his upper arm


We’d order in silence

With two fingers on our triceps

Smile from ear to ear

Smacking our lips clear


Thought that I’d forsaken you

But how could I forget

You come back like a dad who left for cigarettes


A little older a little wiser

A spirit that shines brighter

With your absence

Someone said absinth?


Take two shots of rye 

and a quarter of fernet

A dash of bitters and some syrup stir it well

Add a twist of orange


Just enough to remind us of our youth

Wormwood made our eyes water

Tickled our tonsils and made our hands sticky


To Fernet I raise my glass

Toronto’s where it’s at

Italy San Fransisco 

Tel Aviv Stockholm


Gone but not forgotten 





Ben Gladnikoff writes introspective radical centrist punk poetry and lyricism for the angsty middle class. He frequently collaborates with songwriters and musicians and thrives on the interplay between music, rhythm and art.

Born and raised in Stockholm, reaching adulthood in Tel Aviv, and now based in Helsinki, Ben brings his multicultural background into his writing. Drawing inspiration from as varied sources as Blues, Jewish tradition and Greek mythology, Ben explores the interplay between the worldly and the inner world.

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