Coffee And God Poem by Bonnie Shipman

I search to be satisfied in every coffee cup
the stains on their insides only mirror mine
I hate every taste of a world gone bad,
but I just keep sniffing, insatiably longing
For something—I don't know what
For someone—why has He not shown up?
The thought of coffee burns my mind
but I still long to fill the empty mugs.
Where is the friendship a hot drink embodies,
Where's the companion who will sit by my side?
Finally I realize—not the cups, not my mouth,
but the very middle of me needs filled
I search to be found in the eyes of everyone
seeing only coffee stains before they avert their eyes
You find me before I realize I'm lost
And you wipe away the staining tears on my soul
And your presence is the scent of growing leaves—
A whole new world is waiting, outside the door.

3/19/11