meet me for coffee at the station
find a table outside
we can watch the world go by
don’t worry if I’m late
whisper a memory as you sip
pay my coffee forward
nod gently to the pigeon
asking for crumbs
the one with a missing toe
and survivor’s eye
This poem was inspired by a Christmas card comment from a friend, who mentioned we still hadn’t got a cup of coffee together after a cancelled catch up over 3yrs ago. I’m aware this may well not be possible anymore. I love the idea of others paying for a coffee for someone else who needs it.
I am indebted to the resident pigeons and gulls at the hospital where I was treated. Their “high life” up on the rooftops and ledges of the buildings was very different to the behaviours commonly associated with these birds. They were also my source of companionship and ongoing soap opera.
September 2023 is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. It is also Child Cancer Awareness Month. Every day 10 children in the UK are diagnosed with cancer. Of those lucky enough to survive, many will have long-term side-effects that may significantly impact their lives forever.
I am posting one poem per day to recognise this and raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. This charity provides sailing and other outdoor adventures for children and young people aged 8-24 who have been treated for cancer. But it’s more than that. There’s a package of support around this including siblings, return trips, volunteering opportunities and so on. The Trust also works hard to ensure their work is environmentally sustainable. You can make a donation HERE!
Perhaps my favorite yet. Have you considered recording your voice with these poems? I remember hearing a recording of Robert Frost reading a poem when I was a young man and suddenly, I understood what it meant to hear the speaker's voice. His rhythm, intonation, extended pauses, and inflections helped me understand so much more. It would be wonderful to hear you read these.
In terms of what makes this one a stand-out for me:
1. The lower case and no punctuation makes it feel timeless which parallels the message. It is as though everything in the image is woven together and part of a whole.
2. The colors in the photo are stunning in contrast with the surroundings. Like a feathered rainbow of a promise slightly ruffled and worn.
3. The future tense and imagined interaction with the natural world. The poem is future directive yet at the same time feels as though it has already happened. I don't know how you did that, but it feels magical. It is like this is how things will be, how they are right now, and how they have always been. There is art at play in this one.
Thank you for this gift.