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Coffee and Critics


Coffee and Critics


Five essays on poetry!

Tone – voice – intent – paradox – politics –

Innocence – character – neurosis – truth –

TRUTH!

Coffee break!


Said a friend last week, ‘They grow coffee beans

Vanilla-flavoured now, you know.’

‘Sure,’ I chuckled, really flip,

‘And almond and orange and hazelnut, too.’

‘That’s right,’ she said stoutly, ‘they do.’

Have I missed some major breakthrough

On the slopes of Colombia?


People like my friend are like critics

Who expound so convincingly

To influence your intrinsic taste,

And who can be plausible enough

To change it.

I had to check about those beans,

I really did:

Coffee beans are infused with extra bouquet

Right after roasting

While they are still warm.


Critics, too, can add only

Preferential piquancy

To the real essence of art.

Lots of people don’t like doctored-up coffee

Or critics.



Cynthia Buell Thomas

◄ Poverty Is

Old Woman Waiting for a Bus ►

Comments

<Deleted User> (6292)

Sat 3rd Apr 2010 21:50

Great observational piece...

...an 'Instant' hit.

Augusta xx

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Ann Foxglove

Sat 3rd Apr 2010 17:18

I don't think infused coffee beans have made it down to Cornwall yet! I actually liked the first verse best. Do critics ever add anything to a poem? Except their opinion of course! xx

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Isobel

Sat 3rd Apr 2010 15:38

I like the caustic humour in this. Some people will swallow anything but no-one will ever pull synthetic wool over your eyes Cynthia! A most original analogy. Critics to opinionated, yet not always clued up individuals. I like it - though I found the first 3 lines an odd introduction - not sure I fully got that bit.

<Deleted User> (7164)

Sat 3rd Apr 2010 14:13

I can smell the coffee here Cynthia and it smells wonderful, hopefully it won't leave a bitter after taste. :-)

Jx

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