57. My Cozy Little Coffee Shop

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Between the lanes of Spice and Sugar

At mailbox twenty-seven,

Past cobbler and tinker and lawyer and butcher

A sequestered shade of Heaven.

Swaying sign of carefully carved coal

Marks its awning entrance –

Relinquish, curious convoy, your palatal leader

To steaming, sweeping essence!

Come inside, rest easy amongst friends

On stools of scarlet leather,

Smiling round faces of maids serving blends

At ends of slackened tether.

Beams of chestnut lacquer, home of varnished cedar,

Erected flat-roofed steeple –

Scented burgundy bookshelves, dim warm chandelier

Sheltering tranquil people.

Perusing newspapers, novels, poetry –

Sipping silky brew –

Sketching portraits, landscape, liturgy,

Ink slicks black and blue.

Sample a slice of our sweet sponge cake,

Dollop of cream cheese frosting

Whipped and flavored to tenderly bake

Every misty morning.

Any café can only amount to the best

Of its valued patrons;

Out of their satisfaction buds the kindest

Kind of motivation.

Fare thee well, dear guest, ever blessed

You followed curious curve –

For as long as this hearth burns none the less,

You will find us here to serve.

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