Coke was "the pause that refreshes."
Our pause sustains and explores,
building like birds a nest of shared moments.
We walk in. We order. He pours.
One hot, one cold, punch the card,
such a small price to open a door.
Heft of cup, bitter but sweet,
it's only coffee talk, but it's more.
I am Superman, Einstein, and Johnson,
by turns laughing or silent in thought,
amazed at my perfect good fortune.
You teach and I'm happily taught,
or maybe I show you a difference,
or point out some lines in a book,
and deepen our sense of wonder
at the paths that each of us took.
Another sip brings up the movies,
those captive slices of life.
We both love the real ones
that stab the heart like a knife.
But too soon my cup comes up empty,
and then to our watches we peek,
and coffee time's over, but take heart;
we'll do it again in a week.
