Cup of Coffee

For my dear dad- I came, we lived, you left, and I was left behind...

Cup  of Coffee

Somedays, I would come to see him

Where we would share a cup.

As much as an ocean.

He poured the steamy-

hot dark liquid and sat down

To watch the grainy grey screen.

I sat beside-

But walked away-

To the other room

His clothes were always loose

With worn out shoes.

Then it was time to say goodbye,

I heaved -

The  wooden door, polished with grief

between the crack a warm sunny day.

My mother on the other side,

Embracing me with love.

My father was always alone

But with a warm cup of coffee held firmly in his hand,

And-

He always smiled

no matter how many tears fell

And-

no matter how many times I would shut that heavy wooden door.

A man that watered trees and planted bonsai

in his house, smiled

to see me with tired eyes, and embrace me with arms wide open

hugging me with arms like trees he,

was always alone except,

for a cold cup of coffee held firmly in his hand.

Reviews

[Sylvia]

A really beautiful set of vignettes. You manage to paint a cohesive picture of your dad by weaving together disparate moments and actions. This is well written and poignant. I love the use of the coffee -- The warm, comforting coffee is a foil to a lack of warmth and affection in a lonely man's life.

[Dark_Duckling]

Thank you so much for your review :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Wonderful story for your father. Time with father, coffee and talk. Become honored time for us later when they are gone. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry. I did like this one.
Coyote

[Wesley Dingler]

Sad but beautifully written. I felt the conveyance of everything you had to say here.
Very good work, my friend.

[Nolo Segundo]

Very nicely done--evocative, without becoming overly sentimental-- always a neat trick to pull off in a poem. Congrats on your win.

[Chryiss]

It is times like these yet again that I wished I liked coffee, but alas, it is only tea.
What a wonderful poetic story of your dad, or even simply of a lonely man. That coffee which is warm then turned cold, that missing warmth, it is all so well done to evoke a nostalgia and longing of our own, to think of the ones dear to us or of those with none left.

[KCthelastboyscout]

Im glad you can remember the people you love most fondly with a smile.
Simple thing like a cup of coffee written so warmly.great job

[john l smith]

certainly it is coffee that solves all our woes and fuels our souls
Very nice write
Dave B

[Dark_Duckling]

Indeed it does, thank you for the review :)

[Christian]

This is beautiful. As a father this really hit me and I had to hold back some tears.

[Dark_Duckling]

Being a parent is the hardest job we will ever experience; yet the most rewarding.