Curiosities

there are days when I forget

how you left me wilting in the rain -

a doll in wet stockings outside that café on Left Street

that served the World’s Best Coffee

 

we both knew it tasted bitter,

as we skimmed the surface with our spoons

and relegated the grounds to cheap white napkins

(skim - tap - skim - tap - silence - skim - tap)

 

but we sipped anyway, even asked for refills,

because there was always a table by the window,

and we could watch kids dodging raindrops in the park,

instead of straining words from lost mouths

 

there are days when I forget,

how you were just like that sharp coffee -

a supposed-to-be that required tools and imagination

to hit my tongue with some semblance of satisfaction

 

but today I remember,

and the weak tea inside this oversized cup

tastes curiously of spiced freedom

Reviews

[Rosaria_V]

Your writing is so inspired

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

You are very kind!

[TL Boehm]

a doll in wet stockings....the weak tea in this oversized cup tastes curiously of spiced freedom. Hmm. love the weave of this poem - the atmosphere of it. Taste is perhaps one of the more underexplored senses we use in poetry - and maybe that's why this one sticks to me like it does. I found it powerful.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I'm glad you liked this one, TL...it was a cathardic write.

[Night]

It's better to sip weak tea than to skim bitter coffee. I love this!

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

So true, my friend!

[Adam M. Snow]

This had such great imagery; a marvelous piece. Keep on writing

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Adam!

[Rebecca Buller]

"but today I remember, and the tea inside this oversized cup tastes curiously of spiced freedom."

Utterly superb, GF! A relationship, any sort of relationship, just can't be forced. Sometimes you must simply let go and allow the winds to guide your sails and, hopefully, your little ship will reach the shores for which it's destined. Well done:)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I surely hope my ship reaches a safe harbor someday :)

[Rebecca Buller]

Don't worry, everyone's little ships will. We just have to sit back on the deck and enjoy the sun in our face and the rippling of the water:)

[Rita L. Sev]

you were just like that sharp coffee -
a supposed-to-be that required tools and imagination...

This is a superb metaphor, Sarah. We build some relationships up so much - the reality can be an unspoken disappointment for too long...
Though I prefer strong coffee, I'll bet that freedom-flavored tea is divine...

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I'm glad you got this one, Rita...thank you.

[kublakhan27]

I think I've spent as much time in coffee shops as I have sleeping in the course of my life. The atmosphere is almost voyeuristic for an artist. It's like the human condition in a microcosm...sometimes they are crowded, sometimes you're the only one in there...sometimes because you were left waiting. And that's just skimming the surface, if you will. I absolutely love the finale...it's one of my favourite final stanzas from you work to date. Again, you've penned something that I relate to more than you realize my friend. A lovely and bittersweet episode of introspection.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you, my friend...more bitter than sweet this episode was, I'm afraid :)

[kublakhan27]

I did get that impression :)

[Mark]

Wet days and hot liquid... freedom is so good.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

In the end, I think you are right, Mark...we fight against it sometimes, but when it comes down to it, we have ourselves above anyone else. Thank you!

[Keith LaFountaine]

There's an amazing amount of imagery, as always, but also a huge sense of tenderness. I love it. Awesome work as always Sarah!

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Keith!

[Lydia Shutter]

No amount of forcing a relationship will turn it into what you want it to be. Your metaphor in this one is splendid and the onomatopoeia of the "skim, tap, skim tap" was wonderful. The image of "a doll in wet stockings" is striking! A great write. Lydi**

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Lydi!