by Viki Oak (bio after poem)
Poulsbohemian
COFFEEhouse
den of INIQUITY
CRACK house
TRICK pad
SHOOTING gallery
corner DIVE
Each afterNOON
I curve into this
yellow coCOON of
LOCAL ART
JAZZ MAH TAZZ
the WRITTEN WORD
and a DOG
I learn to “do”
CAFFEINE
mainline
BIG time
daily
in each
seductive
form:
LATTE
CAPPUCINO
MOCHA
AMERICANO
STEAMER
CHAI
they DRIP
smooth
HOT
deceptive
onto my tongue
across my palette
down my gullet
aching for it
they suffuse
infuse my
veins
Who Am I
to resist the
gut GRINDING urge
the deep planted DESIRE
the siren sex and call
beckoning from
COLUMBIA
NICARAGUA
VENEZIA
MUKILTEO ?!
Like a very good
American
I line up
and put my
punch card
down
get my steaming
cup of fix
and leave
a tip
some TALK
a SMILE
on the counter
stay awhile
invites the barrista
there’s a great water view
and comfortable chairs. . .
Copyright © 2002 + Victoria Oak. All Rights Reserved.
About Viki Oak
Victoria Oak is a poet by nature, a teacher by profession, and a technical writer by financial necessity. Born in Queens, New York nearly a half century ago, she has survived the Pacific Northwest Rainfest (Seattle) for over twenty years.
Her poetry appears in both hardcopy and online publications: Exhibition, Brussel Sprout, Utne Café, Writer’s Hood and the Poulsbohemian Poet’s Corner. She has been drinking coffee and writing nearly all of her life. Enjoy!
