Katherine's Coffeehouse

By the John Brown museum, vulture bothering something long dead. “Where would your loyalty lie?” reads the placard. I recall, suddenly, that we’re all animals, that early autumn sun is still hot, and wax can melt on a sidewalk. Be careful where you step. #KatherinesCoffeehouse

Through the back window, I saw the first yellow leaf of fall, as I gathered your fur that’s been collecting in the corner. My friend, I am not used to the idea that you are dying. #KatherinesCoffeehouse

How blunt the scissors used too often. Want to stay sharp? Use only when needed. Refrain from grinding edges, trying to snip tense cord or wire. These are scissors, for god’s sake. Who do you think you are? #KatherinesCoffeehouse

When wheat and tomato meet for an early dinner, cheese invites itself, parsley and basil tagging along. Go ahead. Hold hands. Kiss. This is a date you don’t want to miss.  

Are you starving yet? Has your stomach turned blue and black, inside out with hunger? Have you bruised your back working for enough just to feed your children? Have you tilled until night fell, sweating and swearing, and in between the hell of hay and grieving home, consoled yourself with an ancient hum? Is your […]

How unhappy the worm, eyeing a bird, knowing it cannot fly – unless… Unless. #KatherinesCoffeehouse

Now was the summer of our content, made possible by the sun, and here we lay, and here we slept, bothered by no one, besides Sir Winter happening into our dreams. Where goes warmth when that knight comes? Where go lazy thoughts? Quickly, now. Get quilts out of hiding. The just-in-case days are arriving. #KatherinesCoffeehouse

In the 80’s, there, in row 103, me, lighter raised, like everyone else in praise of music. But mine – I make it dance for me. #KatherinesCoffeehouse

I cannot handle my country handling guns, aiming into the eyes of children, my neighbors, yours, ours. Where is god? Wearing camouflage, in the bushes? Is even he armed? #KatherinesCoffeehouse

By Katherine Gotthardt Maybe you’re supposed to detach from life’s thick ooze in order to recover. Is that what I’m doing? I don’t feel saved. Don’t pray for me. Don’t bother. Put your prayers on a train, hope for enough fuel. Because that’s the last thing we need. Another wreck.   #KatherinesCoffeehouse #PoemsAroundTown See this […]