Coffee House Poem

Ode to a strawberry rhubarb tart

An outdoor table yesterday in Ocean Park, Maine

To hear the related 5-minute audio file that I uploaded today as my Morning Journal flash briefing for Alexa devices, please click on the play button:

OCEAN PERK

That Sunday in Ocean Park
when we walked to
the new coffee shop
with Sophie, wondering
if she’d have to hide
in her little black travel bag.

No worries at Ocean Perk,
no corporate uniforms,
just Erin Moriarty
serving dark coffee—
whipping up a batch of
strawberry rhubarb tarts
that appeared in the case
quietly, without a sign—
Yes I’d love one
to share with my wife.
“Tell me how you like it,”
Erin said. 

Mmm-hmm!
Smooth redness
on fresh dough with
dollop of real whipped cream.

We stayed all morning,
reading a novel of love and murder
set on the coast of Maine,
breathing easily together
at Ocean Perk.