"Coffee House" by Laura Marlene

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present “Coffee House” by Laura Marlene, a teacher of 5th-grade mathematics in Connecticut for the past sixteen years.  Prior to launching her teaching career, she worked on and off as a writer, photographer, and art director.

Coffee House

Laura Marlene

In a blue shingled shack

At the three-way intersection

Of Sherlock Holmes

And Zippy the Pinhead.

He shuffles in to sit alone

On a rickety wooden stool by the back window

Beside a dusty, plush Siberian tiger

And white ceramic cats.

He sings with an echo of loneliness

In a whitewashed room

Searching for the friends and regulars

Who are busy this Saturday.

Where is the coffee?

That is why he keeps messing up this morning

Not that he is sober

For the first time since September.

He is good, real good - like the Big O.

A shy treasure amid cups of dark roast.

Tonight he will go home

To write the ultimate love song.

If a tree falls in the woods

And no one is there to hear it

Does it make a sound?

Only the Lonely will know.

Poet’s Notes:  The scenarios are true in all of my poems. My husband and I have the most wonderful artist friends whom we love dearly. We woke up early to visit a local coffee house in East Haddam, Connecticut to support our musician friend.  For a while, only he, my husband, and I were present to the annoyance of our friend. Eventually, more of our friends filtered into the cafe.  Still, I find it just amazing how many talented people put themselves out there on a daily basis with little to no recognition.  

Editor’s Note:  I especially like the references to Roy Orbison (pictured) who, although famous, was not as famous as he should have been due to his homely countenance, health issues, and competition from Elvis Presley.