Cups.

by Poet on the Piano   Nov 28, 2019


I have too much
history with these cups.
Nothing dissolves here.
Every stain is a reminder
I cannot purge you
from my past.

Do I fill these cups with
coffee and nothing else?
No sugar, no cream
because the sweetest
things will stick
to my teeth
and won't let me sleep.

Do I pour all of you in?
I would die if I let
you soak too long
in my dishes,
you'd poison me
without regret;
time doesn't
make you less toxic.
I can't make sense
of who I am for you taint
every liquid memory.

If I squeezed my brain,
spilling thoughts
into ceramic,
I would just
drink different shades
of darkness.
It would be
tasteless going down

after all,
I'm a nonentity.

-
inspired by Melanie Martinez's new(ish) song" Orange Juice"

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Latest Comments

  • 4 years ago

    by Star

    I got chills reading the last two lines, after the cup image. And when I read that it was inspired by the song “Orange Juice”, I could see that. The song leaves a strong impression, the first time I listened to it I got chills as well.
    I love the poem. I love how I could how was inspired by the song, but yer original! It spoke to me. We give taste to life, sometimes it is tasteless and means nothing, sometimes bitter yet satisfying and many more. :)

  • 4 years ago

    by D.

    Love the running metaphor of the cups, Maryanne, it’s really well executed and effective :) the last two lines were also a great ending.

    Great to see your writing again

  • 4 years ago

    by Everlasting

    I have yet to listen to the song but this is a contemplative write that caught my attention. I specially like this stanza:

    Do I fill these cups with
    coffee and nothing else?
    No sugar, no cream
    because the sweetest
    things will stick
    to my teeth
    and won't let me sleep.

    ^ “because the sweetest things will stick” <- this made me go “huh? Ohhhhhh nice while I nodded” I don’t know why though. But it created that effect on me.

    Sorry for this lame comment. But I’m glad you shared this piece with us.

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