My Adventures in Tea pt.3

WITHOUT

I forgot my Tazo

Left it in an office cupboard

With the nighttime eco-chill

That while saving money

Adds to loneliness.

I tried a shop or two

Hoping for a quick replacement

But found Panera, Starbucks

Closed at 9, forcing me

To settle for less ritzy

McCafe.

The staff inspired little confidence

Discussing with their manager

How the coffee was too watery,

Muddy, in other words, undrinkable,

Before I bought it.

But I drank it anyway

Without complaint,

Knowing that somehow,

Someway this beverage

Was more real.

It was made by those

Who’d lost their jobs,

And still had dreams

Of earning more than

$7.35 an hour.

It was made by college kids

Who had to work the latest shift

Or end up broke and unemployed

Much like the rest of town.

True, it wasn’t certified organic

But it tasted of resilience,

Blood, sweat and tears

And that was something more.