Cold coffee and silence

Early morning musings

How quiet and still these early morning hours...

The barely audible tick, tick, tick
of a number less clock the only sound heard
barring that of my own breathing
and the click, click, click of man's best friend
as he approaches across well worn oak flooring
before jumping up to curl against my exposed thigh,
a welcome warmth on this chilly autumn morning.

Coffee, now 30 minutes since fresh, sits cold
in a half empty white China cup,
the rim smeared, lip stained.
It still amazes me that aged 60 plus
I have never mastered the art of "stainless" drinking,
that lip marks and run stains accompany every sip of every cup.
Should I lick the cups' sides after every sip,
would that be frowned upon,
would I catch the eye of the disbelieving
"did he really just do that" coffee drinking folk
if licking the side of a Costa emblazoned cup in public,
probably, but how else to keep a clean cup,
perhaps lip filler to improve suction, who knows.

A creaking floor board from the room above
halts my coffee cup musings,
has my thoughts turning to the day ahead
and the humdrum, the daily beat
that accompanies my Mon - Fri working hours,
5 more years, death or retirement,
hopefully the latter.

Author's Note

Perhaps to be expanded, who knows:)

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

you really capture that feeling of waking up in the morning. the description of the dog clicking its way to your room was very well-written and was a memorable turn. in the second stanza, we enter the consciousness of the persona as she reflects on trivial things, the way tired brains do. the final stanza now has her now focussed on the immediate future, and we are left wondering what happened to her after. it is a well-structured narrative and the lucid descriptions of sounds make it an engaging read.

[Gee]

Thanks Ern, glad you enjoyed the read

[FlatDaddy]

Yes, I had to stay for another read, and yes again, it was well worth it. And this is new for me. See, I don't give out many reviews 'cause frankly, most pieces I've read don't merit much praise, and you know the line, I'm sure: "damned by faint praise." So I usually slide away, leaving no words behind as a kindness. Most of us, you know, would rather feel the warm smoothness of a palm that caresses than the rough pain of the other side striking in anger. But I am happy to say that I found this lament to my favorite beverage as a wistful puzzle quite delightful. And be of good cheer; in my 77+ years, most of it spent drinking coffee, I have noted that same discourtesy that we bring to our cups. So you are not alone. Nice work.

[Gee]

Again, thank you.
I don't visit the cafe often these days as most of my peers seemed to have either upped sticks and left or popped their clogs.
Like you I tend not to leave reviews on writing that leaves a lot to be desired as most folk on here want smoke blowing up their arses and not constructive criticism or help.
Will pop in and return the favour.
Again, thank you sir

[Betty Hermelee]

Dear Gee
I love your coffee cup musings... its so much better than dead silence or the ticking of a clock (that would drive me crazy)... and how you mused about the lipstick on the coffee cup and the implications in your mind....so clever...and then..it stops and reality takes over, but for those few minutes, it's heaven!
Lovely,
Warmly, B

[Gee]

Apologies for the tardy reply Betty.
Thank you.
Hope you are well

[Betty Hermelee]

I am, thank and you I hope as well!🌷🌷🌷🌷
Warmly
B

[Lorry]

Apologifications on missing this one first time round Gee, but I am still laughing at the thought of you livking a starbucks cup and the lookout the lady whose shop window you are perusing as you do it!
In my mindset it would be to best effect if you wore a flat cap, while chomping on a muffin in the other hand and just as "is it/isn't it" doubt of a not fully open or closed zipper, while you act all oblivious to being today's hot topic! 😃
Now, where did put my bonnet? I fancy a coffee!

[Gee]

Thanks Lorry.
Hope all is Well North of the wall

[Lorry]

It is Gee, if not a bit soggy, buy what's unusual about that?
Hope all is well in your neck of the woods too.

[Gee]

It's been pissing down:)
Should make for an eventful Silverstone if nothing else!

[robert harris jr]

very nice poem this really captured me to me to another relm in time those simple moments time to self reflections of who I'am what make me me thanks!

[Gee]

Thanks Robert

[Ms claws]

Hi :)
I was just sitting here about to make a cup of coffee when I glanced over and saw this title.
So glad I decided to read it! This is outstanding!
To be able to write an entire piece about drinking a cup of coffee!
Thanks for sharing! (Yeah, those drips down the side...grrr ;)

[Gee]

Thank you Glenda

[Kelly Scheppers]

Cold coffee and silence. Oh, the linguistics of the start of every day. The audible tick, tick, tick of your breathing, and the click, click, click of the dog on wood flooring gave this such a distinctive feel for me, as I find myself reheating my mug in the microwave countless times before eventually getting it right. The musings of such an ambiance of time you've collected here is a relative companion to us early risers, greeting the hum drum of the daily beat. So, here's to retirement and man's best friend. I think I need more coffee! Good seeing you, Gordon!

[Gee]

Hi Kelly, nice to see you to. Thank you for dropping in

[emmajoygreen]

What a wonderfully wonderful poem.. tale.. piece of first thing in the morning YOU! Do you see the natural feel of your morning, the smile rather than a nasty old grimace, the feeling of warmth from dog-friend, the sound of life not too far away plus some not too miserable thought (No way is that allowed!) of time before retirement.. With the humour and down to earthness you possess, life ahead is going to be one long sit or lie by the pool of life.. Great poem, great reverie - great scot: you have it all!!!

Wishing you and your girlies love, a tasty lunch and bonny laughter, sir friend.

(re' those coffee marks on mug/cup rim.. tissue, bit of spit - wipe! Done)

[Gee]

Spit on tissue takes me back to the cats lick and a promise wash administered by mum before photos..ughhhh!
Have just finished prepping veg and boiling my spuds(not a euphemism) in readiness for the Sunday lunch/dinner...the good lady is out on a shopping expedition with 2 girlie friends.
Thank you for reading and enjoying, always good to have positive comments for ones "betters" :))

[emmajoygreen]

Laughing, longing to write some sanctimonious or evil comment re. me being a better.. but as I had a problem with that long word.. will just leave it and say don't forget to turn on the heat!

Have tried to do six reviews but can't remember how many done now, never mind over three! .Think coffee time or maybe vitamin C

Have you heard of de la Warr pavilion in Bexhill.. went there whilst away,, that would take some building and overseeing.

[Gee]

Have just googled the pavilion, super impressive, we struggle to build boxes. Did you watch/listen to music, theatre.
We took Hols and boyfriend Joe to view a house yesterday, will not belong before she leaves our nest to set up her own, will be a mixture of emotions when the day comes for her to start her own life. Good thing though, she will be on one of my sites and is only 20 minutes away.

[emmajoygreen]

Time makes for tearful pride, yes? Happy you both that Hols and Joe will be near however. Could have gone over the sea to somewhere but even so.. yes, an ultra emotional time,

Re. visit to Warr, was there more to look at build - truly something special and obvious from indoors.
Also had a fistful of sarnies - kept feet on floor until eight in evening!