November Sanctum

sun sets early in november while streetlights pepper busy sidewalks and chilly winds hurl through the streets bundled up, head on we face the gale always keen for coffeehouse intermissions where mugs and napkins are exchanged for money a warm familiar welcome as we come in from the cold the atmosphere relaxing, retro music that's enticing a table for secluded refuge in a corner incognito baristas giving us the eye offering to impress with their skills: a fancy this, a fancy that poised to whip up your heart’s desire steaming milk for frothy lather while the aroma of grinding coffee fills the air and feels as soothing as a sweet caress here time stands still on one side of the counter the only one on speed is our pleasant highly caffeinated talented barista modern art hung on bare walls yes, time stands quaintly still here and this is where i seek my haven where i go to hide, to read, to write to dust the sinews of my soul to sit where words will not aggress me exquisite swirls of foaming cream atop patterned with fleeting symmetry lips approach and deface the perfection the illusion forever shattered time is afterall finite as proclaims my empty cup i linger longer in no hurry to leave stretching this mini getaway 'relaxing' lounging and destressing recharging my depleted batteries soaking in the void of words focus on what stirs below absorbing energy in the silence in the not speaking in the not listening behind the scenes reality awaits the pause button is now released AP: Honorable Mention 2025