A Cold Coffee Mug Poem by RIC BASTASA

they're all happy: man beside a woman
holding hands, smiling, behind them a snowy mountain,

a kid blowing candles on a chocolate cake, it is his birthday,
behind him
his dad, and mom and guests, balloons in colors, and
and some gifts,

at the mall you and some friends pose in front of a huge
Christmas tree, your hands having a hard time with the stuff
you bought for yourself,

oh, they're all happy, and here you are alone in your room
writing a poem, outside your window, shadows of trees, a distant
sound of a dog howling,

coffee mug for one, and it has gone cold.