Cocktail 25: A Dream Within a Dream

The Poem

This poem was published in 1849, just months before Poe died. It comprises two stanzas (the second of which is reproduced above). It’s a somewhat nihilistic poem, questioning the meaning and purpose of existence. He suggests that we cannot have any real influence on our surroundings; that our puny little actions are ultimately impotent and purposeless. Indeed, his central proposition is that our lives are mere illusions–that “all that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” It would seem that Poe is here channeling Eeyore.

The full poem is available here.

The Drink

This idea of Life’s Illusions was, of course, picked up by Joni Mitchell 120 years later in “Both Sides Now.” It also inspired a class of cocktail called the Midori Illusion. And that’s what I’ve selected to represent this poem. (Note: There’s really no illusion involved with this drink. It’s just an unnaturally-neon green cocktail. But it’s the best I could do. Give me a break.)

Ingredients:

1-½ oz Midori

1 oz vodka

½ triple sec

1 oz. pineapple juice

Splash of lime juice

Poe-Script

I cannot encounter the word “illusion” without thinking of William Castle’s 1960 schlock horror film, 13 Ghosts. Castle had developed a reputation for (generally silly) gimmicks to promote his films. Accordingly, he claimed that 13 Ghosts was filmed in “Illusion-O,” which supposedly made ghosts visible on the screen. What’s more, movie patrons were provided with a “ghost viewer” (a cheap set of cardboard glasses with red and blue cellophane lenses) that allowed you to choose whether to see the ghosts or, if you’re a scaredy-cat, not.