coffeeshop, one morning in march 2011
This one may not be much, but it captures a slice of life in our heartlands. I wrote this for NaPoWriMo 2011.
Sorry, this is pretty localised, foreign readers may not know what i am writing about. :)
photo by dsnake1
coffeeshop, one morning in march 2011
the cleaner
rubs my table
with a greasy rag.
i do not know
where to rest
my cup of tea.
he looks at me
and smiles.
i thank him.
01/04/2011
**********
"Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?"
-- Edgar Bergen
Shared on Poetry Pantry #316 at Poets United.
© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2016
Sorry, this is pretty localised, foreign readers may not know what i am writing about. :)
coffeeshop, one morning in march 2011
the cleaner
rubs my table
with a greasy rag.
i do not know
where to rest
my cup of tea.
he looks at me
and smiles.
i thank him.
01/04/2011
**********
"Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?"
-- Edgar Bergen
Shared on Poetry Pantry #316 at Poets United.
© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2016
Labels: heartlands, life, morning, NaPoWriMo, Poetry, Singapore, urban
posted by dsnake1 at 9:22 PM
20 Comments:
You have captured a moment of life well - two people momentarily connect! Nice.
thank you, Mary! :)
yes, it was two people momentarily connected, though we may be strangers to each other.
I think you have captured both an individual and universal moment - those little moments of connection make the world go around :)
Precious few are those moments when we connect with another living soul. Beautifully penned.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Agree with Mary... a moment..a smile...a connection
I think when we talk to it other the coffee will cease to make a difference... maybe it's searching for others that make us drink coffee...
Jae,
thank you! it could have been happening at some other place at the same time too. maybe he was not doing a good job, but i didn't mind because it was such a thankless job, and so early in the morning too. :)
Sanaa,
thank you, you said it so accurately! :)
thotpurge,
thank you! :)
Bjorn,
it's quite a common sight here, people having a coffee/tea at the coffee shop before going off to work. maybe it's the culture. and yes, some of us do become friends meeting like this. :)
A moment exchanged, and well captured! Always lovely to see you, Lee San!
This scene you've captured is quite universal, especially the use of a "greasy rag". I enjoyed reading your poem.
a smile and a thank all that's needed to make this life sweet...
I always think of people I meet out (or in The coffee shop) as just like me with a life being led that no one knows about but still deserving of a "Hi!" or in Australia a "Good day!"
I like the immediacy and the mutual acknowledgment.
I had to hesitate here ... which is what the narrator did, too. Too often the job done isn't to our standards, but we provide gratitude still. It is a gift we can give and may change a tired and hopeless heart.
Sherry,
thank you! :)
Julian,
i guess it's quite universal too. there will always be workers clearing and cleaning tables.
Sumana,
indeed! wish there are more 'smiles' and 'thank yous' in this world. :)
Robin,
i liked what you said about this! to treat each and everyone with respect. :)
Rosemary,
thank you!
i wasn't too fond of this poem originally, thought it was too simple. but now i find this simplicity is also its strength.
Susan,
thank you for your thoughtful comment.
yes, gratitude, and humility. what went through my mind was, yes, we are fellow blue collar workers. very soon, i will be splicing wires & jointing phone lines.
Oh! The sharp contrast between the two individuals is so real and painful. The smile only adds into the difference but it also makes it believable that in the end, we are but one. Distinctions only lie in the norms of society.
-HA
HA, it's always a joy to read such comments. :)
yes, we are different but ultimately, we are also all the same.
I don't need to know what you're writing about to appreciate your brevity and truth.
always good to see you, MMT! :)
Very nice. I do believe our daily lives are enhanced when we leave ourselves open to those little connections,we come across, as we go about our work and routines.
thank you, Wendy!
i guess our lives can be enhanced so, without us even knowing it. :)
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