Brimful [edit]

[dukealien]

Last line corrected - how did *that* get in there?

FIVE SEVEN FIVE!!!!!
but also this could reasonably be turned into a haiku, if you set it some season-time, like instead of well-aged brandy, say, "vintage plum wine" or something, which I think would somehow better it
and I can't help but be irked by the missing articles in the first and last lines -- maybe something like "The old man ambles / like he carries plum vintage / in a brimming cup." but that's probably just me
otherwise, lovely! and what last line corrected?

Can it be haiku with people in it?  Have to check the rules  .

The last line had "a" in it, as your suggestion does, which bumped the syllable count.  Somehow I missed that in editing and posting.

I agree, lack of articles a flaw.  Going full-house Japanese with their shallow dishes of sake for drinking might help (what's the formal name for those?)  Disagree with "ambling," though - I'm trying for the slow, jittery caution of an arthritic man - ambling is too relaxed.

@kolemath -  Need to reinforce my imagery here,

pointing to the intended symbolism of the elderly man carrying his full life in unsteady hands.

Thanks to both!  This one has some edits coming.