Kempthorn by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Flip was a popular drink in colonial America, created by plunging a hot fire-poker, known as a "loggerhead," into a mug filled with ale, rum, and sugar to heat and froth it. Kempthorn toasting its inventor is amusing because he treats a simple barroom recipe with the same seriousness as a religious blessing — and that instantly reveals the kind of man he is.

Parson Melham is a clergyman character featured in Longfellow's Tales of a Wayside Inn. When a sea-captain toasts him during a drinking round, it’s a lighthearted jab at his expense—or perhaps it just shows that he’s well-liked enough to be remembered warmly over a cup of flip.

It works perfectly as a dramatic piece. Longfellow crafted it as a character moment — there's even a stage direction ("They drink") included — making it feel more like a scene from a play than just a standalone lyric. Its short length is intentional: it captures a single loud, joyful moment at the tavern table.

Tales of a Wayside Inn is Longfellow's collection of poems that uses a frame narrative, similar to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. In this work, a group of travelers at a Massachusetts inn share stories with one another. Kempthorn, the sea captain among them, provides a snapshot of his character through this toast, which sits between the more extensive tales.

It refers to sharing the drink around the table, ensuring everyone has a turn. It's an invitation to toast together—nobody is left out. This phrase was often heard in the speech of colonial taverns.

Longfellow crafted a colorful array of characters in Tales of a Wayside Inn, and a quick two-line toast reveals all you need to know about Kempthorn: he's sociable, irreverent, and enjoys a drink. These brief character sketches add depth and vibrancy to the longer collection.

At its heart, this is about friendship and the happiness that comes from being together. There's also a sense of memory—raising a glass to Parson Melham keeps him with us, even if he's not physically there. Plus, the entire setting is steeped in a distinct home culture: the colonial tavern traditions of New England.