Morning Coffee
shockingly bitter like a friend with a dirty secret
the fun of Robusta is its acridity,
acidity flavor brash as a sharp-accented lemon
I let myself take inelegant gulps before attacking the day
now that the coffee has yielded its indiscretions to me.
The Smell of a Hot Coffee
Bowled over as if by a Tartuffean suitor
I am alternatively attracted/repelled
By the scent of Yirgacheffe
As though it was a tiny burning forest
Squeezed into a mug
As if it were a thousand roots crushed in the rain
a tiny storm full of black-hued flittings
And with a huge inhale, I choke on the cologned steam
Shudder then gulp
a few long long sips
for the workday awaits me like a cuckolded husband.
Water Bottle
A breath of winter air,
A becalmed memory of the biting tackle of the sea,
Gently makes its way out of my water bottle:
killing thirst.
Juliana “Jules” Schifferes is a poet from the Washington, DC area. She has published in Bourgeon and Maryland Bards. Her themes often include mental health, infatuation, and nature but are often expansive in nature. Her influences shift over time, but include Basho, Delmore Schwartz, and James Merrill. She works in outreach and social media outside of writing. In her free time, you’ll find her curled up with contemporary poetry and a cat.
Image: MarkSweep, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons