There is talent in the slow curl of a good cigarette
although I can not make rings to chain
through the air towards stars
I can make a smoke look good
at three in the morning when the city sleeps
and I am alone with my stars and my heaven
with no ratty-eyed preacher to tell me
how it is with my god and me.
Hot coffee has to be sipped, but cold coffee is best
I can gulp and not wear blister of it
on my lips that will not speak of this
to my righteous children who wish
Mother would be just like them
with nice church clothes and shoes
and a little black book tucked under my arm.
They would not write poetry or drink caffeine
nor would they step out into the shadows
and watch night lap against the city
or hear the coyotes tell me the truth
they wouldn't want to hear.
I wish they were like me, open-mouthed and sighing
words and dragging slowly off a red cherried wand
that writes rhymes with in the dark sky
and a good swig of scummy au lait
to wash the taste of them off my tongue.
Coffee tastes like dawn and resurrection in spite of sins.
Author notes
prompt: taste 26 lines
In a list
A contest entry
- Imagery: Taste by Lj-.
300 points, ended December 4, 2007, 5 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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Wow.
I love how descriptive this is.
Thank you for your entry,
Best of luck.
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ty so much
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Great images with sharp clarity and fun. Pure fun.
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tongue in cheek kinda fun...
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well a good fag .after lovemaking is always great one as i recall,,the best one of the day..damn it pour yourself another coffee ,, good luck ppg
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lol...I htought you'd say, get ready to light another cigarette
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This reminds me of my beautiful mother - the way she would sit at the kitchen table and slowly, skillfully begin each day with a hot cup of black coffee and a parliment. She never wanted anything fancy in life and she knew the importance of simplicity. This is a beautiful poem . . . powerful and image evoking!
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ty for sharing how you related to this poem
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God how do you do it?
Damn!
Yow!
ok yu get the point
Mal
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ty, pen friend.
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Amen
That I can agree with wholeheartedly. Nothing beats a cigarette and a good cup of coffee early in the am. As a truck driver who rolls in the predawn hours, I cannot tell you how many days start that way.
Wonderful write as always. Thanks for sharing
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Alas, as do I...
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