I Said Coffee Poem by Sharmagne Leland-St. John

I said coffee
I didn't say,
'would you
like to cup
my warm
soft breasts
in your
un-calloused,
long,
tapered,
ringless fingered
hands? '

I said coffee
I didn't say,
'would you
like to
run your tongue
along my neck
just below
my left ear-lobe? '

I said coffee
I didn't say,
'would you
like to
hold me
in your arms
and feel my heart
skip beats
as you press your
hard lean body
up against mine
until I melt
into you
with desire? '

I said coffee
as we stood there
in the jasmine
scented night
my car door
like some modern day
bundling board
separating us,
protecting us
from ourselves
and lust

I said,
'would you
like to go for
a cup of coffee? '
I didn't say,
'would you
like to brush
your lips
across mine
as you move
silently
to bury your face
in my long, silky,
raven black hair? '

But you said,
'I can't
I'm married
I can't trust myself
to be alone
with you.'
so I looked you
dead in the eye
and repeated
'I said coffee'


Pushcart Prize Nominee 2007