made a deal with stoneyplace to do this as sound poem.  am still very hoarse and congested.  city sound FX work o.k. tho' with this one.

The Coffee Mug

I bought a new coffee mug today.
I like it.
It replaces an old one,
broken.
It has its plusses and minuses.
For example,
I can cup it in both hands
and not get burned.
But that also means,
when I am on my terrace,
during winter,
having that cigarette,
and pulling my jacket tight
around me
while I watch the deepening sky
Venus in the distance
airplanes leaving or
arriving
the moon in its crescent
not high enough for radio signals,
well then my hands won't get warm.

It is not microwavable.
It is stainless steel inside.
The lid is made of some rubber
like substance and fits securely.
It has an opening in the sunken lid -
somewhat like those new plastic ones
in use at Starbucks, I guess.
I don't go to Starbucks,
although there are a couple
in my neighborhood.
See, I prefer those small cafes
that litter the streets.
La Continentale has closed.
My favorite.
There will be a/n [Grand] Opening
soon; taking its place
is the Iron Sushi Chef.
Cafe 230 on 29th Street
is a walk. And they're never open.
There is Lite Delights or Delites,
which has some tables outside,
but it has no ambiance
and healthy foods.
I suppose I could go across the street
to the Silver Star Deli - and I do,
sometimes
when I'm in a rush and need a takeout cup.
The Coffee Craze from Seattle
is o.k. I guess. Large cups.
And Borders Bookstore is always crowded,
I feel guilty if I don't buy a book and just sit there.

Oh yes, my mug..
the handle is rubbery too,
but I can fit my four fingers
of my right hand inside,
over the green-molded grip,
while my thumb rests
comfortably outside on top.
And the bottom has a mold too -
It is a flat, black, donut-shaped coaster
attached securely, to prevent
spillage or stains, i'm not sure which.
The outside is a glossy silver gray
and it say COPCO, very clearly
at the bottom. It is made for travel.

I cannot place it in the dishwasher.
So, I will wash the lipstick off by hand,
lifting off the cover by its projecting lip -
that cover with its tiny airhole
for liquid to breathe -
I can even take the chance of standing this mug
near my computer, on top of my CDs, and feel safe.
That's progress.

9/30/00
Copyright2000. Susan Katz.
All rights reserved.