Poetry on Friday – Coffee memories

Posted on 04. Dec, 2009 by Rachael in Books, Poetry

coffee

Coffee Memories by Diana J Howard

I don’t drink coffee
not now,
not anymore

It’s not that it keeps me from sleep
If you knew me now,
you’d know I never sleep

It’s not as if I think of you
each time I sit in coffee shops
My memories of you faded –
(it was so long ago)
replaced by memories
of those who followed
(over and over and over again)

I am the constant figure
in coffee shops
you moved on,
they moved on,
I stayed
And I stopped drinking coffee

Diana J Howard is a ‘SPARKLER’ and I’m delighted that she has given me the opportunity to share with you one of her great poems. When I asked Diana for a few words about her life and writing inspiration this is what she had to say:

“I had an idyllic childhood, in the 50’s, with loving parents – but I think I lost my way after my father died when I was 8, it was only later that I discovered he too wrote poetry.

I think I’ve been trying to replace him ever since. It was older men in the beginning to get the security I felt I needed, and later, younger men to feel passion.

Mr Llewellyn, my English teacher, instilled into me a love of poetry and that’s how I began to channel my thoughts into words. Read my poems, and you may begin to understand me. What I write is real, mostly based on experiences and on people and places that have inspired me, and there’s only a smidgen of poetic licence.

The daily routines of the household and holding down a full time job can kill creativity – in the end I gave up my job, decided to live on my savings as long as I could and write.

You’ll find me in coffee shops writing, or performing in bars. And in summer, in Dalyan – sitting by the river, pen in hand – drinking apple tea and watching the boats go by.”

Diana J Howard

7 Responses to “Poetry on Friday – Coffee memories”

  1. ken

    04. Dec, 2009

    nice diana, keep it up, poetry seems to be dissappearing, and its good to see its still alive and in word, not in text

  2. kate

    04. Dec, 2009

    Lady Diana,
    This is poetry to be treasured. It says so much but so simply.
    I often sit and have a coffee during the busy day and I do the crossword and then just sit and people watch and wonder about their lives……..
    Have that couple just met? Are they on a blind date?
    Who is the lady who just sits and smiles and nods as if talking to a companion only she can see?
    Will that young Mum, exasperated by her toddler’s antics, sit there alone in year’s to come and fondly remember? The two suited gentleman, hunched earnestly over the laptop, briefcases at their feet, pens in hand…….are empires being made?

    And all this…over a cup of coffee!
    Espresso for me please.

    Thank you so much Diana
    xxx

  3. Marj

    05. Dec, 2009

    Thanks Diana for letting us into your life … as Kate said your poem says so much but so simply … x

  4. jack

    05. Dec, 2009

    What a wonderful poem, Diana. So intimate and touching. Thanks for sharing it.

    And the best of luck with ’stepping off the ladder’ – it makes life much more exciting.

  5. Diana

    06. Dec, 2009

    Thank you for all your lovely comments,it really means such a lot to me. I have a wonderful new addition to my life with Sparkle and all the lovely Sparklers

  6. adrien

    06. Dec, 2009

    conjures an image in my mind of the man slowly stepping through time, while the world continues at a faster pace, Very nice piece Diana.

  7. Mike

    07. Dec, 2009

    Lovely poem Diana,
    I really enjoyed your poem and I especially enjoyed your thoughts on why you write, thank you for sharing.

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