Requiem for Starbucks

     midnight at the jump-start palace
     huddled separately-together
     small wooden tables
     organic inconveniences
     subsumed by polymers
     formica and coffee
     coaxed from a bean
     harvest to excretion
     dripped indifferently into
     sacred stainless vessels    
     
     such clarity caffeine affords
     false rush, nervous induction,
     limited hyper-focus
     a soupcon of cream
     saccharine prayers
     for smooth transition
     from warm, soft dream-streams
     through xenon's jangled glare
     the loudest most irritating
     harshest of realities
     morning insanity

     roughnecks, night shift nurses,
     students and the sleepless elderly
     pilgrimage to this lourdes nervosa
     ice-watered eyes submerged
     'til blured worlds grow clear
     as crystal crutches
 
     an eight foot neon tube
     vibrates warnings
     a fearful organ stop
     whispered sotto voce
     a requiem rehersal for terra
   
     shamed by darkening winds
     arrogant to any season
     Vox Humana bleets
     accusing questions
     into this technoplastic
     caffeine cavern;
     indifference
 
     sheep-siblings dream
     deeply on dark turf
     the drawing down of blinds
     conscience dims
     liqueured to the pain
     unaware that soon
     their own slow breath
     may complete them

     Waddie Greywolf 7/10/99