Coffee drips while espresso shoots

and hot grounds grow damp

while people order and aprons flutter

an aroma fizzles the nostrils—

sweet and roasty says the side of the bag,

cold cream riding in the cup with no writing

and fifteen slow-ticking minutes mull by

while egg sandwiches crumble through lips,

until the first electric sizzle

confounds all the nervous brain

and caffeine takes command of the ship—

everything eases as muscles grow tougher

and painful positions less pompous

while every man is a gentleman,

his lady proves a fellow friend

and kids are charming mostly—

all the oops are funnier and every quip cleverer,

all the people playful and every exchange enthused

with caffeine’s happy optimism.

So: liquid Joy and Motivation, it’s you I address,

to you alone I say—

if not for your dark presence

I’d surely slip astray.