Cold coffee and silence

Early morning musings

How quiet and still these early morning hours...

The barely audible tick, tick, tick
of a number less clock the only sound heard
barring that of my own breathing
and the click, click, click of man's best friend
as he approaches across well worn oak flooring
before jumping up to curl against my exposed thigh,
a welcome warmth on this chilly autumn morning.

Coffee, now 30 minutes since fresh, sits cold
in a half empty white China cup,
the rim smeared, lip stained.
It still amazes me that aged 60 plus
I have never mastered the art of "stainless" drinking,
that lip marks and run stains accompany every sip of every cup.
Should I lick the cups' sides after every sip,
would that be frowned upon,
would I catch the eye of the disbelieving
"did he really just do that" coffee drinking folk
if licking the side of a Costa emblazoned cup in public,
probably, but how else to keep a clean cup,
perhaps lip filler to improve suction, who knows.

A creaking floor board from the room above
halts my coffee cup musings,
has my thoughts turning to the day ahead
and the humdrum, the daily beat
that accompanies my Mon - Fri working hours,
5 more years, death or retirement,
hopefully the latter.

Author's Note

Perhaps to be expanded, who knows:)

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

you really capture that feeling of waking up in the morning. the description of the dog clicking its way to your room was very well-written and was a memorable turn. in the second stanza, we enter the consciousness of the persona as she reflects on trivial things, the way tired brains do. the final stanza now has her now focussed on the immediate future, and we are left wondering what happened to her after. it is a well-structured narrative and the lucid descriptions of sounds make it an engaging read.

[Gee]

Thanks Ern, glad you enjoyed the read

[Kelly Scheppers]

Cold coffee and silence. Oh, the linguistics of the start of every day. The audible tick, tick, tick of your breathing, and the click, click, click of the dog on wood flooring gave this such a distinctive feel for me, as I find myself reheating my mug in the microwave countless times before eventually getting it right. The musings of such an ambiance of time you've collected here is a relative companion to us early risers, greeting the hum drum of the daily beat. So, here's to retirement and man's best friend. I think I need more coffee! Good seeing you, Gordon!

[Gee]

Hi Kelly, nice to see you to. Thank you for dropping in

[emmajoygreen]

What a wonderfully wonderful poem.. tale.. piece of first thing in the morning YOU! Do you see the natural feel of your morning, the smile rather than a nasty old grimace, the feeling of warmth from dog-friend, the sound of life not too far away plus some not too miserable thought (No way is that allowed!) of time before retirement.. With the humour and down to earthness you possess, life ahead is going to be one long sit or lie by the pool of life.. Great poem, great reverie - great scot: you have it all!!!

Wishing you and your girlies love, a tasty lunch and bonny laughter, sir friend.

(re' those coffee marks on mug/cup rim.. tissue, bit of spit - wipe! Done)

[Gee]

Spit on tissue takes me back to the cats lick and a promise wash administered by mum before photos..ughhhh!
Have just finished prepping veg and boiling my spuds(not a euphemism) in readiness for the Sunday lunch/dinner...the good lady is out on a shopping expedition with 2 girlie friends.
Thank you for reading and enjoying, always good to have positive comments for ones "betters" :))

[emmajoygreen]

Laughing, longing to write some sanctimonious or evil comment re. me being a better.. but as I had a problem with that long word.. will just leave it and say don't forget to turn on the heat!

Have tried to do six reviews but can't remember how many done now, never mind over three! .Think coffee time or maybe vitamin C

Have you heard of de la Warr pavilion in Bexhill.. went there whilst away,, that would take some building and overseeing.

[Gee]

Have just googled the pavilion, super impressive, we struggle to build boxes. Did you watch/listen to music, theatre.
We took Hols and boyfriend Joe to view a house yesterday, will not belong before she leaves our nest to set up her own, will be a mixture of emotions when the day comes for her to start her own life. Good thing though, she will be on one of my sites and is only 20 minutes away.

[emmajoygreen]

Time makes for tearful pride, yes? Happy you both that Hols and Joe will be near however. Could have gone over the sea to somewhere but even so.. yes, an ultra emotional time,

Re. visit to Warr, was there more to look at build - truly something special and obvious from indoors.
Also had a fistful of sarnies - kept feet on floor until eight in evening!

[Marie]

I love how you fill your reader in one the beautiful morning filled with silence apart from the tick tock of the digital clock, that you have woken to, dear Gee. I love how your dog comes to greet you and curls up beside you.
I too, start my day with a Cappuccino but have to have it very hot, I never mastered drinking cold coffee.
I love your coffee cup musings!
The five years to retirement won't be long passing by, dear Gee. In case I am 'on the other side' when the time arrives, I wish you many, many, many happy, blessed and wonderful years of retirement, dear friend.
I love your poem, Gee! As always, inked with humour and again, as always a great joy to read.
Thank you for sharing this very finely penned poem studded with warm and lovely depiction. Beautiful blessings your way, Gee...

[Gee]

Again thank you Marie, so glad you enjoyed

[Marie]

Most welcome always, dear Gee...

[Robert Trakofler]

Lol perhaps a sippy cup or some straws would help:) I believe if you found a skilled tea reader they may be able to interpret you lip stains as a way of divination you could be masking valuable information by licking that cup!

[Gee]

Coffee through a straw, NEVER I say, never :)
Thank you Robert

[Robert Trakofler]

lol yeah that’s was a bad idea

[MsJewel]

I think mornings are my favorite time of day. The cool calm quiet before the rush of the day.. and that first sip of coffee is always the best. Like you, my lipstick always finds my cup and I too have thought of licking it off!! Oh well...we aren't perfect, but your poem is - Perfectly lovely and a joy to read. Julie

[Gee]

Hi Julie, thank you. As one of my peers it is nice to know you approve:)

[Coyote Poetry]

I need coffee, I love my coffee in the morning or the night. My coffee seemed to get cold too. I am 66 years old and I must keep working to stay ahead of the bills. Hello my friend and thank you for sharing the entertaining poetry.
Coyote

[Gee]

Hi Coyote, thank you for taking time out to visit, read and comment, it is most appreciated.
Hope you are keeping well.

[Gee]

Hi Jacob, thanks for taking the time to drop in, always appreciated

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this made me lick my lips in anticipation of fall and those cool days. Your description gets us there, we are right with you with every thought and movement.
I am retired...feels a little like a certain death to me.
I am anxious to return to teaching as soon as I can.
j.

[Gee]

Hi Jacob, thanks for taking the time to drop in, always appreciated

[redzone]

early morning musing with coffee and stained cup... if you licked your cup in public, I would know exactly what you are doing and would be amused at your thinking and solution. A stained cup usually means there is much to be thinking about, a feat that many do not bother to do, as they are too caught up in the daily routine. I find that cold, half-filled cup is a signal for me to get started on my day.

a very relatable poem, Gee. And hopefully there will be a part 2 and 3 and...

[Gee]

Thank you kindly, appreciate you both reading and commenting on this piece.