Usawa Literary Review is headquartered in Mumbai, India.
PIN Code: 400050
Interested in working or collaborating with us?
Contact Us

Homebrewing Tarragon

October 26, 2026

I make it with Marmite. I add a pinch of blue and berry with a hard core of melting sweet bitter chocolate ganache with a twist of lime. Yorkshire pudding is a must and a Mars Bar if you have it. Warm scones spread with legs. The recipe can be tailored in different ways to make the shoulders broader and give you a look in the eye that can cause the Emmental to melt and eventually burn—just the right amount for a caramel crisp in bed. It works best with a swagger but the sauce still binds without. In summer, brewing can be more difficult because there’s more heat which can melt the sheets and singe the cotton which keeps the chin at the right tilt and the warmth also wilts the cabbage leaves. This is a problem for the chest and I find the scars itch more in the heat wherever they are, or wherever they are not. Radiators fall off the wall in surrender as you tough-guy it out on the Metro and you will likely find the other half of the recipe—this is one of the good things about the sweat. A tank top of thin dough will suffice and you can stud it with currants or make a spotted dick and serve the look with Birds custard and liquorice tang. We’re getting close. Real butter smooth but also gritted with salt can be added at this stage as the brew takes shape. A solid cottage pie and we’re swinging, feeling ourselves and pounding the meat flat and cooking it rare so the juice still flows. That’s the knack and the flick of the wrist that comes with whisking. The knife that is stained is what we’re after—it becomes rusty that way, like my Dad’s

Vic Brooks

Vic Brooks is a nonbinary boy poet & novelist, and also parent to small identical twins. Their poetry has been twice nominated for the Monarch Queer Literary Awards. Their debut poetry collection is forthcoming from t’ART Press and their second novel is in progress. They can be found on Instagram @vics_double_trouble.

Looking for more Poetry?

Browse the Poetry Archive →
Back to Home

Support Our Work

If you enjoy our content, consider supporting us.

Support Us

We are an unfunded, independent feminist publication. We need your support to continue our work.