Cafe Collapse

a history of the not quite fatal day

 once we entered the Cafe a newbie 

hat in one hand, poetry in the other

acceptance our hope, rejection our fear.

 

love and nourishment 

abounded, surrounded and enfolded us.

we gained confidence. we opened our hearts.

we boldly began to 

risk and reach and teach and preach,

to acknowledge and to share knowledge.

 

finally, we placed our hats at a bold and jaunty tilt 

and began to throw up aggressive, 

spontaneous-grouped words, and

impulsive-imagined thoughts into 

ever changing patterns and rhythms.

into evolving artistic digital streams 

to delight or disrupt 

Cafe visitors and regulars alike.

 

we nibbled and gorged 

on word-fancy food,

on media resources,

on views and reviews.

we sipped and chugged 

on pure, clear-flowing word-hydration. 

 

a higher evolved civilized biped,

we’ve clawed, fought, and chewed our way 

to the top of the hierarchy of needs.  

with food, shelter, and acceptance 

taken for granted, 

we are free to pursue higher ends, 

to observe and interpret 

the aesthetic world with divine words.

 

in our revelry, 

in our celebration of the fortunate grace 

bestowed on us, 

we neglected a basic truth. 

 our cafe, our celebration, our revelry

was held up, was balanced, 

by a single finger... 

the finger of Charlie.

 

the whim of the finger 

of a mysterious man. 

a fault-filled and corrupt man, 

given to fits of tiredness, sin, 

and mistake-ridden angst,

and barely-controlled direction 

...like the rest of us.

 

The fickle finger faltered,

trembled and shook.

the Cafe erupted, glass broke, 

strings unravelled,

a black cloud of detritus, of ephemera, 

of words, dust, debris, and dreams 

flew from the cafe in an instant.

in a gray flurry 

our pretty words 

escaped into the ethos.  

Our dreams set lose.  

reality slapped us sensible.

 

lament the loss of a 

brave bastion of etherial technology, 

an imperfect precious pretty pentacle

a combined creative 

communication community.

 

then pledge to rebuild, 

to reestablish, to republish, 

to post, and to repost.

pledge to support,

to move on

and to forgive 

 

Pray to strengthen, straighten, and guide 

the errant finger.

Long live the fickle finger of Charlie!

Reviews

[Helena]

Oh I just loved this! Bravo my friend for coming up
with this witty and clever write on a very emotive
and sensitive issue. lol Much enjoyed!

Helena

[Blemish In The Stars]

Despite the humorous nature of this poem, I can definitely relate to the frustration. I had... a countless amount of unsaved poetry and it all went away when the site crashed. No blame on Charlie though. I shoulda saved it all. Anyway this is a great piece of poetry that I'm sure speaks to a lot of people. Great stuff and I hope you continue to write more.

[Celtic Cat]

Which finger?
I'm wanting to cut and paste Adam's reply...since I agree. But, that would be plagerism, and I'm not down with breaking THAT law! This was a very good write, I was enjoying it up until the paragraph on Charlie, but the enjoyment returned with the last line of that stanza...."like the rest of us". While I do have a heart and feel for those who lost everything, I also needed this literary enema. I had too many pieces regarding my past relationship that I'm taking this as a sign to let go of my past and forge ahead into my future with a clean slate. I'm not sure I'll be reposting much besides my book in progress, which is the only thing I have on this computer. Once the anger and grief die down around here (not mine - I have neither) I'm really considering running a contest for people to write works to fit the reviews. Seems like a creative way to put those still-here reviews to good use! Of course, I may just be all talk...as I often am. Good write, PapaEd, I know you not, but I've seen your reviews around. This is one of the best writings I've seen so far on this tragedy. Peace!! And a nod to the Tamster for being your pimp. : )

[Adam Greenfield]

Bravo! I like this. Not only was the subject playful but it was written with a strong voice.

And I feel bad for Charlie. I've never met or talked to him but he's got one hell of a site on his hands. Yes, this was very tragic as I, too, know people who lost a lot of things. I equate this somewhere between a major earthquake and an F5 tornado; enough to shake things up, completely erase a major part of a small yet burgeoning town, and keeping us all very humble. In fact, I think those staying and reposting what they have, even if only a fraction of what was up before, understand that really, s**t happens.

I have not reposted anything but I'm doing that on purpose. See, I was looking for a cafe enema anyway. This was perfect timing for me (plus, I was one of the few lucky enough to have everything backed up somewhere). I feel very clean and refreshed now. Time to start new. Anyway.

Great write. Thanks for sending me this one. I needed that smile.

[TL Boehm]

ok first I have to tell you I am laughing my arse off - but then i have to say this is a brilliant write. I"m 'pimping' this - or whatever its called when you send your buddies to other buddies.
long live the finger. Lets hope from now on its an appropriate finger.