|
This site exists for one purpose only: to help dispel the ugly and absolutely untrue myth that poetry is boring. Granted, a lot of poetry is boring, but you won't find it here. At Your Daily Poem, you'll find poetry that is touching, funny, provocative, inspiring, uplifting, and surprising. It may punch you in the gut, it may bring tears to your eyes, it may make you laugh out loud, but it most assuredly will not bore you!
Poetry on YDP—by poets living and long dead, famous to completely unknown--is specially selected for accessibility and appeal. Thanks so much for visiting—and remember: a poem a day keeps the doldrums away!
|
|
|
Indulgence by Don Colburn Awesome! she said as soon as I spoke
a few words for coffee. Can I get your name?
Don, I said, D-O-N, and felt stupid
for spelling it out, until she said Cool!
It was raining and my desk job
three blocks away, four stories up,
so I said Make that extra hot
and she said No worries – how’s your day so far?
OK, I mumbled, and she said Right on!
Anything else with that today?
I was about to say no thanks but my eye
caught on the bouquet of biscotti
and I pointed to the ginger one.
Excellent! she said, your total comes to $3.50.
Which is ridiculous for a small paper cup
of steamed milk and a biscuit to stir it with
but I counted out three ones a quarter two nickels a dime
and five pennies and she said Perfect!
My drink was on the bar – Eight-ounce extra hot
skinny no-whip one-pump mocha for Dan –
and I carried it out into the cold rain,
the awesome unsung day.
From Because You Might Not Remember (Finishing Line Press, 2010).
This poem first appeared in Cloudbank.
Used here with the author’s permission.
|

Don Colburn came to poetry late and unexpectedly, in the midst of a newspaper career. A longtime reporter for The Washington Post and The Oregonian, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in feature writing. He has an MFA in poetry from the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. Colburn has published six poetry collections, including five chapbooks, the latest titled Purchase. His writing honors honors include the Discovery/The Nation Award, the Finishing Line Press Poetry Prize, the Cider Press Review Book Award, the Ruth Stone Poetry Prize and residencies at MacDowell and Yaddo. He lives in Falmouth, Maine. Learn more about Don at www.doncolburn.net.
|
|
bmi:
Don
I've always enjoyed your work. This one is wonderful too. Jan Baross
Posted 11/15/2010 05:28 PM
|
carolworks:
Possible to have skinny with a pump of mocha? Only if you are extra hot!
Posted 11/15/2010 12:28 PM
|
David Cooke:
This poem glows with one of your many voices..happily exasperated. Like a cup of coffee..warm and caffeinated but a little bitter.
Posted 11/15/2010 11:15 AM
|
absee:
Alan:
Laying down enough change to get the treat you want.
Laying down enough words to get the poem you want.
Keep spending, D-O-N!
Posted 11/15/2010 10:46 AM
|
loisflmom:
Hey Dan-- No tip for the barista? Shame!
Posted 11/15/2010 09:59 AM
|
Carol Hauer:
I'm reading about drinking coffee while I'm drinking coffee...double the pleasure. What a good way to start the day.
Posted 11/15/2010 08:18 AM
|
jeanie:
Awesome!!! love it.
Posted 11/15/2010 06:11 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contents of this web site and all original text and images therein are copyright © by Your Daily Poem. All rights reserved.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Purchasing books through any poet's Amazon links helps to support Your Daily Poem.
The material on this site may not be copied, reproduced, downloaded, distributed, transmitted, stored, altered, adapted,
or otherwise used in any way without the express written permission of the owner. |
|