My Calmer Creature Poem by nathan martin

black coffee in the sea,
with a thermos for a light house
reading house blend.

granular earth in the bread,
or at least in the pastry window
next to the register.

vegetarians sitting at tables in
a coffee shop parallel to a bookshelf
and a row of abstract paintings.

maybe i should go over there for a little bit.

maybe make some light conversation,
talk about the weather.

maybe sit quietly by myself and do a crossword.

maybe do a mental handwriting analysis
of the barista's chalk board.

maybe look at all the polaroids of the regulars
and think about what i would wear if i was a regular.

still one space left, still a chance for me
to reach my southeast portland coffee house
bulletin board nirvana.

there i would remain tacked up on the wall for awhile,
a plad wearing black coffee drinking herbivore.

calm as can be in criss crossed shades
of blue and green.