your eyes stare down at the cup of coffee
clutched tightly between cold hands
staring ponderously, mournful of its absence
of the answers you hoped to see within it
so you take a deep breath and sigh
breath shoving sharply away the faint wisp
of steam that climbs slowly up
to caress your face
and disturbing the liquid within with rippling
harmonies and dissonances
your eyes reflect the coffee they stare at –
no milk, no sugar –
stained deep brown by decaffeinated tears
you lift up the cup slowly to your lips
so small, pale, and wonderfully flavored
and blow softly – a silent whistle –
before sipping from its warmth
and setting it back down slightly off-center
from the ring it had just left behind
your shirt slips just a little
to reveal the tinist bit more of your bare shoulder
only to be swiftly readjusted
you smile dimly at some private thought
briefly seeing beyond the cup of coffee
to someplace beyond the world of dreams
and breathe another sigh

01/24/2002

Posted on 01/24/2002
Copyright © 2024 Gary Hoffmann