'Coffee' by Richard Brautigan

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story

Sometimes life is merely a matter of coffee and whatever intimacy a cup of coffee
affords. I once read something about coffee. The thing said that coffee is good for you;
it stimulates all the organs.

I thought at first this was a strange way to put it, and not altogether pleasant, but
as time goes by I have found out that it makes sense in its own limited way. I'll tell you
what I mean.

Yesterday morning I went over to see a girl. I like her. Whatever we had going for us
is gone now. She does not care for me. I blew it and wish I hadn't.

I rang the door bell and waited on the stairs. I could hear her moving around upstairs.
The way she moved I could tell that she was getting up. I had awakened her.

Then she came down the stairs. I could feel her approach in my stomach. Every step she
took stirred my feelings and lead indirectly to her opening the door. She saw me and it
did not please her.

Once upon a time it pleased her very much, last week. I wonder where it went,
pretending to be naive.

"I feel strange now," she said. "I don't want to talk."

"I want a cup of coffee," I said, because it was the last thing in the world
that I wanted. I said it in such a way that it sounded as if I were reading her a telegram
from somebody else, a person who really wanted a cup of coffee, who cared about nothing
else.

"All right," she said.

I followed her up the stairs. It was ridiculous. She had just put some clothes on. They
had not quite adjusted themselves to her body. I could tell you about her ass. We went
into the kitchen.

She took a jar of instant coffee off the shelf and put it on the table. She placed a
cup next to it, and a spoon. I looked at them. She put a pan full of water on the stove
and turned the gas on under it.

All this time she did not say a word. Her clothes adjusted themselves to her body. I
won't. She left the kitchen.

Then she went down the stairs and outside to see if she had any mail. I didn't remember
seeing any. She came back up the stairs and went into another room. She closed the door
after her. I looked at the pan full of water on the stove.

I knew that it would take a year before the water started to boil. It was now October
and there was too much water in the pan. That was the problem. I threw half of the water
into the sink.

The water would boil faster now. It would take only six months. The house was quiet.

I looked out the back porch. There were sacks of garbage there. I stared at the garbage
and tried to figure out what she had been eating lately by studying the containers and
peelings and stuff. I couldn't tell a thing.

It was now March. The water started to boil. I was pleased by this.

I looked at the table. There was the jar of instant coffee, the empty cup and the spoon
all laid out like a funeral service. These are the things that you need to make a cup of
coffee.

When I left the house ten minutes later, the cup of coffee safely inside me like a
grave, I said, "Thank you for the cup of coffee."

"You're welcome," she said. Her voice came from behind a closed door. Her
voice sounded like another telegram. It was really time for me to leave.

I spent the rest of the day not making coffee. It was a comfort. And evening came, I
had dinner in a restaurant and went to a bar. I had some drinks and talked to some people.

We were bar people and said bar things. None of them remembered, and the bar closed. It
was two o'clock in the morning. I had to go outside. It was foggy and cold in San
Francisco. I wondered about the fog and felt very human and exposed.

I decided to go visit another girl. We had not been friends for over a year. Once we
were very close. I wondered what she was thinking about now.

I went to her house. She didn't have a door bell. That was a small victory. One must
keep track of all the small victories. I do, anyway.

She answered the door. She was holding a robe in front of her. She didn't believe that
she was seeing me. "What do you want?" she said, believing now that she was
seeing me. I walked right into the house.

She turned and closed the door in such a way that I could see her profile. She had not
bothered to wrap the robe completely around herself. She was just holding the robe in
front of herself.

I could see an unbroken line of body running from her head to her feet. It looked kind
of strange. Perhaps because it was so late at night.

"What do you want?" she said.

"I want a cup of coffee," I said. What a funny thing to say, to say again for
a cup of coffee was not what I really wanted.

She looked at me and wheeled slightly on the profile. She was not pleased to see me.
Let the AMA tell us that time heals. I looked at the unbroken line of her body.

"Why don't you have a cup of coffee with me?" I said. "I feel like
talking to you. We haven't talked for a long time."

She looked at me and wheeled slightly on the profile. I stared at the unbroken line of
her body. This was not good.

"It's too late," she said. "I have to get up in the morning. If you want
a cup of coffee, there's instant in the kitchen. I have to go to bed."

The kitchen light was on. I looked down the hall into the kitchen. I didn't feel like
going into the kitchen and having another cup of coffee by myself. I didn't feel like
going to anybody else's house and asking them for a cup of coffee.

I realized that the day had been committed to a very strange pilgrimage, and I had not
planned it that way. At least the jar of instant coffee was not on the table, beside an
empty white cup and a spoon.

They say in the spring a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love. Perhaps if he has
enough time left over, his fancy can even make room for a cup of coffee.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Poetry, Coffee" by Richard Brautigan: A Literary Exploration

Have you ever taken a sip of coffee and felt a surge of inspiration run through your veins? This is precisely the feeling that Richard Brautigan captures in his short poem "Poetry, Coffee." With only six lines, Brautigan manages to evoke a sense of wonder and creativity that is both universal and deeply personal. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, symbols, and literary devices used by Brautigan to craft this masterpiece of modern poetry.

Summary of "Poetry, Coffee"

Before we dive into the analysis, let's take a moment to appreciate the poem as a whole. Here is the text of "Poetry, Coffee" in its entirety:

Poetry is a cup of coffee

with a piece of poetry

on the side.

At first glance, this poem may seem too simple to merit any serious consideration. But upon closer inspection, one can see that every word and punctuation mark is carefully selected to convey a specific meaning. Let's break down each line and explore its significance.

Line 1: "Poetry is a cup of coffee"

The first line of the poem sets the tone and establishes the central metaphor that will run throughout the rest of the piece. By comparing poetry to a cup of coffee, Brautigan creates an immediate sense of familiarity and warmth. Coffee is a universal beverage that is consumed by millions of people around the world every day. It is a symbol of comfort, routine, and perhaps even addiction. By linking poetry to this everyday object, Brautigan is saying that poetry can be just as essential to our lives as a cup of coffee.

Line 2: "with a piece of poetry"

The second line of the poem is where things start to get interesting. Brautigan introduces the idea of a "piece of poetry" as something that can be added to the cup of coffee. At first, this may seem like a strange and nonsensical concept. How can one physically add a piece of poetry to a cup of coffee? But upon reflection, it becomes clear that Brautigan is using this phrase to convey a more abstract idea. The "piece of poetry" is not a physical object, but rather a mental or emotional state that can be evoked by reading or writing poetry. In other words, a piece of poetry is a moment of inspiration or beauty that can be captured and savored like a sip of coffee.

Line 3: "on the side"

The final line of the poem is where Brautigan ties everything together. By placing the "piece of poetry" "on the side" of the cup of coffee, he is suggesting that poetry is not the main event, but rather a complementary element that enhances the overall experience. Just as a slice of lemon can add a tangy twist to a cup of tea, a piece of poetry can add a touch of magic to our daily lives. It is not something that we need in order to survive, but rather something that makes life worth living.

Themes and Symbols in "Poetry, Coffee"

Now that we have a basic understanding of the poem's structure and meaning, let's take a deeper look at the themes and symbols that Brautigan employs to convey his message.

Theme 1: Creativity and Inspiration

The most obvious theme of "Poetry, Coffee" is the idea of creativity and inspiration. By comparing poetry to coffee, Brautigan is suggesting that both can be sources of energy and motivation. Just as a cup of coffee can give us a jolt of caffeine to help us power through a busy day, a piece of poetry can give us a burst of creativity to help us tackle a difficult project or simply appreciate the beauty of the world around us.

Theme 2: Simplicity and Beauty in Everyday Life

Another key theme of the poem is the idea that beauty and inspiration can be found in the most ordinary and mundane aspects of life. Coffee is a simple and unpretentious beverage that is consumed by millions of people every day. Yet Brautigan suggests that even something as basic as a cup of coffee can hold a piece of poetry within it. This idea is reminiscent of the haiku tradition in Japanese poetry, which emphasizes finding beauty and meaning in everyday moments and objects.

Symbol 1: Coffee

As we have already discussed, coffee is the central symbol of the poem. It represents routine, comfort, and the everyday aspects of life that we often take for granted. But it also represents energy, creativity, and the potential for inspiration. By linking poetry to coffee, Brautigan is suggesting that both can be sources of joy and wonder in our lives.

Symbol 2: Poetry

Of course, the most obvious symbol in the poem is poetry itself. Brautigan uses poetry as a metaphor for the moments of beauty and inspiration that we can find in everyday life. But poetry also symbolizes the creative process itself, and the idea that we can use language to capture and convey our deepest emotions and experiences.

Literary Devices in "Poetry, Coffee"

In addition to its themes and symbols, "Poetry, Coffee" also employs a number of literary devices to enhance its meaning and impact. Let's take a look at some of these devices and how they contribute to the overall effectiveness of the poem.

Metaphor

The central metaphor of the poem is, of course, the comparison of poetry to coffee. This metaphor creates an immediate sense of connection and familiarity for the reader, while also emphasizing the importance of poetry in our daily lives.

Enjambment

The use of enjambment in "Poetry, Coffee" is particularly effective in creating a sense of flowing and continuous movement. By breaking the lines in unexpected places, Brautigan creates a sense of spontaneity and unpredictability that mirrors the creative process itself.

Assonance and Consonance

Brautigan uses assonance (the repetition of vowel sounds) and consonance (the repetition of consonant sounds) to create a sense of musicality and rhythm in the poem. For example, the repetition of the "o" sound in "Poetry is a cup of coffee" creates a sense of harmony and coherence that ties the lines together.

Imagery

While "Poetry, Coffee" is a short and simple poem, it is also full of vivid and evocative imagery. The image of a "piece of poetry" being added to a cup of coffee is particularly striking, as it creates a sense of physical and sensory experience that is both surprising and delightful.

Conclusion: The Power of "Poetry, Coffee"

In conclusion, "Poetry, Coffee" is a small but mighty poem that packs a powerful punch. Through its clever use of metaphor, imagery, and literary devices, Brautigan manages to capture the essence of creativity and inspiration in a way that is both universal and deeply personal. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply someone who enjoys a good cup of coffee, this poem is sure to resonate with you on a visceral level. So the next time you take a sip of coffee, take a moment to savor the "piece of poetry" that is hidden within it. Who knows what kind of inspiration it may bring?

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Coffee: A Classic Poem by Richard Brautigan

Richard Brautigan is a renowned American poet and novelist who has left an indelible mark on the literary world with his unique style of writing. His works are known for their surrealism, humor, and simplicity. One of his most famous poems is "Poetry Coffee," which has become a classic in the world of poetry. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem "Poetry Coffee" is a short, four-line poem that captures the essence of poetry and its relationship with coffee. The poem reads:

"The coffee in the cup reminds me of the coffee in your cup. Oh, how I miss you."

At first glance, the poem may seem simple and straightforward, but upon closer examination, it reveals a deeper meaning and significance. The poem is a reflection of the poet's longing for someone he misses dearly, and how even the simplest things, like a cup of coffee, can trigger memories and emotions.

The poem's structure is simple, with only four lines, but it is effective in conveying the poet's message. The first two lines set the scene, describing the coffee in the cup. The third line introduces the person the poet misses, and the final line expresses the poet's longing for that person. The poem's brevity and simplicity make it easy to read and understand, but it also leaves room for interpretation and reflection.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. The coffee in the cup is a powerful image that evokes a sense of comfort and familiarity. It is a symbol of routine and daily life, something that is often taken for granted. The coffee in the cup is also a metaphor for the poet's memories of the person he misses. It represents the moments they shared together, the conversations they had over a cup of coffee, and the comfort they found in each other's company.

The repetition of the word "coffee" in the first and third lines is also significant. It creates a sense of continuity and connection between the two images. The coffee in the poet's cup is linked to the coffee in the other person's cup, emphasizing the bond between them. The repetition also adds to the poem's rhythm and musicality, making it pleasing to the ear.

Another literary device used in the poem is the use of enjambment. The first two lines are enjambed, meaning that the sentence continues onto the next line without a pause. This creates a sense of flow and movement, mimicking the movement of the coffee in the cup. The enjambment also adds to the poem's musicality, making it sound like a song or a chant.

The poem's theme is one of nostalgia and longing. The poet misses someone and is reminded of them by the coffee in his cup. The poem captures the bittersweet feeling of missing someone, the comfort of memories, and the pain of separation. The theme is universal and relatable, as everyone has experienced the feeling of missing someone at some point in their lives.

In conclusion, "Poetry Coffee" is a classic poem that captures the essence of poetry and its relationship with everyday life. The poem is simple yet profound, using imagery, repetition, enjambment, and theme to convey the poet's message. It is a poem that speaks to the heart, evoking emotions and memories in the reader. Richard Brautigan's "Poetry Coffee" is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the beauty and complexity of life in just a few words.

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