Tonic

TONIC Gin, with its memory of juniper That imbues a certain sweet tang But needs a slightly bitter contrast To be well-rounded on the tongue Relieved to deliver its full promise Tonic water, innocently sparkling Knowing its partnering role so well Offering quinine as a prophylactic Originally for Malaria in the Empire A complement to balance the heat Ice, as cubes dropped into the glass Their mission, ever eagerly accepted A cool aperitif then turned into cold With just a thin twist of lemon or lime That clink, somehow a reinforcement