The Coffee Shop

Steamy air and porcelain ivory mugs lined stout and uniform

Dark teak panels line this hub like marble slabs 

upon a temple

For within these low tables, high top Formica bar

My fellows youth find their sought commune

Far in the corner sits a bearded man

a hipster? Order: espresso, two shots

Sniffling silently over a mixtape from his ex,

staring into the coffee as if it held the answers

And at the window table, gathered close in conspiracy

Pre-teens in gauzy pink and beaded leather heels (I find I disapprove!)

Quoting "Mean Girls" with a vaguely disturbing reverence 

Their half-hearted imitation of tomorrow's queens is short-lived and yet

I still shiver staring at the unwelcome mirror of my youth

An elderly couple, hand in hand, shouting their order

to the nice young man with syrup staining his well-intentioned green apron

sweating behind the counter amid the heat

And shouting "Black, two sugars!" to no one in particular

Quite bewildered; as if he's woken up to slightly less pleasant surroundings

than his bed

Finally, the first date couple, tension thick between them

The blonde smiling nervously; does he notice her twirling her hair?

He in turn swings his feet nervously from atop the table stool

but his eyes are genuine, and he can't believe his luck

Only I see the hesitant hand outstretched beneath the table

and I smile

For it seems I've found the answer to this Mecca

The coffee shop they've come to seek truth from

And I sit too, nursing a pumpkin spice somewhat ironically

Enjoying the feel of my pen over paper, writing down these answers

They've come to find and yet don't seem to notice

Reviews

[Tomás Ó C..]

We all stare at our coffees like they hold the answers to life!!!

[The Hampstead Poet]

It would seem so :). Thanks for your review!

[viola]

I really like this! I love coffee shops for exactly what you've captured in this poem--the different types of people who come and their interactions. I can picture the coffee shop so vividly and all the different groups, great images!
I have a couple very small related comments. Do you have a reasoning behind when you capitalize the beginning of a line and don't? Also have you considered any type of punctuation at the end of lines? You have one lone comma right now. I think I'd get rid of that lone comma--giving the impression you pause at the end of all lines or think about a few other punctuation marks if you have places you want the reader to pause and don't.
As I said I love the images you've painted. Well done!

[The Hampstead Poet]

Thank you for your review, I'm glad you enjoyed this piece. I will work on this piece, particularly in regard to punctuation and capitalization. Using, I capitalize when I'm trying to separate the next thought from the previous one, but it would seem this method is confusing. I will try to make the piece clearer in that regard as well. Thank you for your critiques, I will work to fix the problems in this piece.