What do coffee and poetry have in common?
At first glance, they might seem like unrelated pleasures—one a daily necessity, the other a sublime art form. Yet, for many writers, myself included, coffee is more than just an ancient beverage. It is an essential part of the creative ritual, a companion to the process of putting thoughts and emotions into words.
Like most poets, I adhere to a ritual that borders on the sacred. Whether this ritual benefits or harms us is a matter of debate, contingent on the time, energy, and mental space it consumes under the guise of “productivity.” Yet, if I may indulge for a moment, I propose that these rituals are as vital and as inevitable as the feelings they help us navigate.
Feelings can be elusive and difficult to process immediately, but they can certainly be articulated and named, even as they evolve. This is the essence of poetry: a word set into a line, forming a stanza, flowing into another line, until our innermost thoughts are laid bare. Similarly, coffee serves as my ritual when crafting poetry, even poetry that revels in “all things caffeine.”
This isn't to suggest that those who abstain from this simple ritual, enjoyed by over half our population daily, are at a disadvantage. Rather, it is to suggest that this ritual is available to you, should you choose to sip on it.
Coffee is ubiquitous: every block in a metropolitan area, every turnpike in suburbia, offers a reminder that there’s a coffee shop waiting to serve you on your journey—even if you don’t know the destination. It is inescapable, like poetry. The moment an emotion stirs within, you are compelled to act. Yes, you could sip on it for immediate gratification, but you could also let it drip, simmer, and remain unindulged.
Why should poetry be any different? Who says poetry must always be written? Sometimes, poetry is found in the words left unspoken, captured within our mugs, “like the mugs we hold a little too close.”
In my debut poetry collection, "Coffee, a Sip of You and Me," I seek to capture my upbringing, my love life—including its not-so-sweet moments—the expansive world I grapple with, and the happiness I brew from the lessons I’ve encountered and learned from along the way.
To give you a glimpse into this symbiotic relationship, this ritual of coffee and poetry, this connection, that I return to time and again, consider these verses. Remember, whether reading or writing these poems, there are no rules—just hands on a keyboard, fingers flipping pages, and pen to paper, to spill the beans:
you order black because you’re certain
you taste black because you’re saddened
you stopped sugar in your coffee because you’re not satisfied
you stopped sugar in your coffee because you let them take
your sweetness
you burned your tongue because you couldn’t bear to speak
you didn’t think they’d understand anyway
you blistered your taste buds to feel alive
you did not wait for the coffee to cool
because what difference did it make
you weren’t in charge of the order anyway
—DEPRESSED
in due time
the remnants of you and i will vanish
and i will find another drink
that’s not quite you
and it won’t quite be the time
and certainly, i’m not fine
but quite honestly, i’ll tell myself lies
and tell the crowd: this is the best drink i’ve ever laid eyes on
and best of all
i won’t hope for your return
because drinks have an expiry date too
—ONE AND DONE
i like my friends
my mochas
my blondes
my dark roasts
my blends
for we all love
and converse
for we vow
we won’t
we don’t
discriminate
–21st CENTURY KID
Written by Rachel Harty
Writer Bio: As a transplant New Yorker, coffee aficionado, and poet, Rachel Harty can often be found roaming the city on gliding, hyper-caffeinated feet. And if you can't find her in person, well, discover her debut poetry collection, Coffee, a Sip of You and Me, now available on Amazon and select independent retailers.
To discuss her latest book or respond to this article, visit her at www.RachelHarty.com.