Coffee has long been a subject of poetic exploration, with its complex flavors and sensory appeal as a rich source of inspiration. Poems centered around this beloved beverage capture its essence, delving into the rituals of brewing and consuming.
These poetic compositions excel in evoking the sensory aspects of coffee, employing imagery to depict the aroma of freshly ground beans, pouring a cup, and the tactile sensation of holding it.
These poems also explore broader themes such as connection, solitude, and introspection, emphasizing the significance of the coffee-drinking experience.
‘Breakfast’ by Jacques Prévert considers a man’s actions and the speaker’s reactions. The latter is moved by the man’s simplest actions.
He poured the coffee
Into the cup
He put the milk
Into the cup of coffee
‘Toilet’ by Hugo Williams is a humorous poem that describes a man’s struggles to speak to a beautiful woman on a train.
I wonder will I speak to the girl
sitting opposite me on this train.
I wonder will my mouth open and say,
'Are you going all the way
to Newcastle?' or 'Can I get you a coffee?'
Harrison’s ‘The Bright Lights of Sarajevo’ illuminates love and life amidst war’s darkness, showcasing human resilience.
After the hours that Sarajevans pass
Queuing with empty canisters of gas
to get the refills they wheel home in prams,
or queuing for the precious meagre grams
Seth’s ‘Sit’ champions pausing to cherish simple moments with others amidst life’s rush, highlighting the beauty in shared stillness.
Sit, drink your coffee here; your work can wait awhile.
You're twenty-six, and still have some life ahead.
This poem reflects on the intimate connection between writing, smoking, and music, ending with the evocative image of a face illuminated by words.
There are many that I miss
having sent my last one out a car window
sparking along the road one night, years ago.
‘I Wanna Be Yours’ is a simple poem where everyday metaphors express deep, enduring love in a refreshingly direct way.
I wanna be your vacuum cleaner
Breathing in your dust
I wanna be your Ford Cortina
I will never rust
‘Imaginary Conversation’ explores a woman’s internal struggle with routine, longing for freedom and a life of new beginnings.
You tell me to live each day
as if it were my last. This is in the kitchen
where before coffee I complain
of the day ahead—that obstacle race
‘Meeting Point’ by Louis MacNiece is an eight-stanza poem that uses structure, rhyme, and metaphor to reveal the life cycle of a relationship.
Time was away and somewhere else,
There were two glasses and two chairs
And two people with the one pulse
‘How Things Work’ by Gary Soto is a moving poem that envisions an optimistic perception of the way people support one another through financial altruism.
Today it’s going to cost us twenty dollars
To live. Five for a softball. Four for a book,
A handful of ones for coffee and two sweet rolls,
Bus fare, rosin for your mother’s violin.
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