revolutionary (under)tones in a hot cup o' joe


I am in line deciding whether to have a cafe au lait
mmm
or a regular ol'
cup o'
joe
when
I spy
(outta my little eye)
something waggishly
grand.

sounds like... but not quite
looks like... but no cigar
feels like... pero it's not tangible
a REVOLUTION

what's that, you say?
I look to the pot of muddy brown essence for answers
(I can't trust the unbridled conformity in the eyes of my fellow homo sapiens and the dear old cafe au lait is too well liked to be of any help)

Ol' joe, however, is ready for anything
(everything)
the aroma from this life force fills my nostrils
and tells me everything
(NOTHING)

SHADE YOUR EYES AND EARS FROM THE REST
THEY DON'T SUIT OUR PURPOSE AND THEY WILL ONLY DISTRACT YOU

a careful glance shows me the light from the dullness of
their faces
me an' joe share a smile

EVERYDAY
I SAY
REVOLUTION ANYONE?
ANARCHY MY FRIEND?
THEY ALL PASS ME BY
OVER
LOOK
SHUT THEIR EARS, TURN THEIR HEADS, CLOSE THEIR EYES
PASS ME BY...

I know
JOE
I KNOW

DO WHAT YOU MUST THEN, CHILD
COMRADE
FRIEND

In an instant, I realize what begs to be done, and before
I know it, all I know is
JOE
and the revolution
I fly
with pegasus' wings I fly

passed the mindless drones
over the counter
passed good ol'
JOE

and I grab the
(enemy)
piece de resistance
steamed, frothy milk clouds my vision
doubt swells as I dump the
faux
joe

commotion

GO, FRIEND, GO!
THIS IS A REVOLUTION
BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS!

glass shattering
gasps
the broken body of the lovely
the divine
miss all american
cafe au lait
I realize what I have done
look at the confusion on the blank chalkboard faces
I shed tears for the fallen queen
out of the stunned silence
laughter like pebbles on glass

AT LAST I AM FREE OF HER SICKENINGLY SWEET
(EFFERVESCENCE)
REIGN! THANK YOU COMRADE.
LIVE LONG AND PROSPER.

I turn to the dullard wearing the green apron that screams employee
my sweet n' low smile oozing across my face
threatening to spill off the plane
held there only by the corners of my trembling lips.

"A hot cup o' joe, please."