Coffee and Poetry

Ever since I’ve retired, I’ve found a great place to settle down with a book of poems is the local coffee shop. Grande latte in hand, I page through the book, reading aloud to myself, jotting down memorable phrases, seizing on the barest hint of an idea that just might spark a poem of my own.Sometimes the spark comes from watching other coffee drinkers. Sometimes it comes from, of all places, the restroom. My thanks to The RavensPerch for publishing three of my poems recently, including this one. Raven's Perch

Coffee Shop Graffiti

Sally Zakariya

Who writes reclaim yourself on a bathroom wall up there with declarations of undying love misspelled insults and bad jokes scrawled on the scratched paint broken tiles underfoot harsh light overhead Maybe you with your briefcase and latte, foam blowing like sea spume, or you there with the newspaper and frown— is it the headlines or your life that troubles you Or maybe you, mommy, trundling in your bundle of squealing potentiality— doctor lawyer merchant chief someday something fine and good and better than I could ever be But now each day another chance for reclamation, for taking back what’s lost while you still can another chance to face the dare reclaim yourself

Read this, plus “The Consolation of Donuts” and “That Far Beach,” here.