Hipster Barista

When I say, "my pleasure" and mean it. Also, that latte was actually made by me (he gloated, shamelessly).

I make latté art for pretty girls
And pour milk into exquisite swirls
for more than minimum wage.
I'll talk about art and social issues
While replacing coffee stirs and tissues
for more than coffee breaks.
I'll cast a hex with my steam wand
and form a vortex of milky froth,
that pours itself into a pond
of espresso, with a flower floating on top,
for more than what I make in tips.
I pass paper cups behind my back
And blindly grab mugs from the rack.
I'll laugh with customers all day long,
and dance to all my favorite songs,
And it's not for that pay check that I do it;
It's just that when I make a drink,
I pour my heart into it.

-Epipsychologist

Author's Note

This is one of the few poems where I'm not creating a character, or at least the character is me. I honestly love what I do (who wouldn't?) and if all I get to do is make coffee and give it to people for the rest of my life, I'm okay with that.

Reviews

[TL Boehm]

to do what you enjoy is a good thing - to write about it and allow us to enjoy it is even better.

[.]

"It's just that when I make a drink,
I pour my heart into it " is a magnificent line :))))

[writing mojo]

your caffeinated self trip is worth more than a cup of any average joe
slowly sipped until cool...great piece

[Epipsychologist]

Thank you,
I'm weird for a coffee snub, I chug mine when it's cool.

[icelandicblue]

I love this and it is important to find pleasure and satisfaction in what we do. There should be pride in a job well done because it is that joy that keeps us going. Your descriptions are gorgeous throughout:

And pour milk into exquisite swirls

Society is judgmental about what constitutes success but you can't measure happiness. I like the social commentary in this as well.

[Epipsychologist]

Thank you icelandicblue,

I'm finishing up college this year, and I actually feel bad for a lot of peers who can't seem to grasp the notion that it's okay to not have a high paying job immediately after graduation. I'm not saying people don't need careers, but I'm happy making scrap wages for now. Thanks for your review.

[kdarcy]

Ah, the love of a good cup of coffee or whatever other creation you have in mind. A little gem here and a pleasure to read.

[Epipsychologist]

Thank you kdarcy.
Coffee is like writing in that I can't fathom my future without it. I suppose it's pertinent that this is writerscafe

[Rita L. Sev]

A barista is an artist, and it seems that you put your heart into that art, too. Your joy in your work shines through these words, and in the dance of those coffee cups!

[Epipsychologist]

Thank you Rita,
I'm thinking of having this framed and left by the tip jar. Those tips do matter to me more than this poem would suggest!

[Angi]

Oh! This is delightful and I ain't blowing smoke up your apron, either. *wink* The first two lines had me seeing you grinning, winking, flirting and swirling all at the same time. The magic steam wand line is cool. I like the switching it up with the rhyme scheme and also stirring some near rhyme into the mix. I use a lot of internal rhyme/near rhyme in my work. I just like the musicality/singsong-y/chant-y thing it (is supposed to, anyway) bring to a piece. I have to say, I like this one very much. I have a pot 'o joe brewin' right now! Angi~

PS: The title pulled me in. I am a sucker for a good one.

[Epipsychologist]

Thank you Angi,
"Steam wand" is an actual term, but its magical effect has never been lost on me. I think that the modern readers have more of a want for inner rhyme than they used to (perhaps because of rap and slam poetry). But I find inner rhyme and the musicality fun to work with most of the time. Perhaps this is a fun way of putting it: the "darlings" that we are supposed to kill in prose now find their refuge in poetry.
Thanks for the review. I hope my response wasn't too pretentious.

[Angi]

I don't find your response pretentious at all. For me, the musicality, rhythm and flow of (some) poetry is what draws me to it. I never cared for rap and slam poetry hasn't really called out to me, either. What I have seen has been too theatrical, angsty and screamo for my taste. That could very well change, though. To be fair, I have not been exposed to a great many artists, there. I do love watching my local barista wield his magic steam wand. So glad I found this fun piece and you are very welcome for the review. Make some awesome coffee, today! Angi~

[Laura Harrison]

As a trainee barista, i love this poem :)

[Epipsychologist]

Being a barista is genuinely awesome. You get to drink coffee all day and hang out. I don't really have the pretension most baristas get accused of though. I know good coffee from bad, and I like what I like. My advice is to treat every customer like you want their number. And drink as much coffee as you can (I have about seven a day) it's good for you.

[Baby Ricochet]

Sounds like a hell of a cup of coffee. I'll have to have some. You'll know it's me when I get there, and I want some Goddamn cake too. Not those biscotti things. We had pound cake in our mre's that were better than those things

[Epipsychologist]

haha. You should get the "breakfast of champions" ten egg special (with bacon and cheese). I also hate biscottis. Unless they're basically melted in coffee (in which case you have to drink them anyway) I can't tell when I bite one if it's my teeth breaking or the pastry.