Music Is My Coffee
by Kelly Riedesel

It’s 5:30 am
And I’m draggin’ as usual
Lookin’ thru a murky brown foggy funk
For my spirit
But it’s still lyin’ in the bed

Now, I know that out there in the world
Somebody is slow roasting me my coffee
I mean, picked the beans, carried them to the house,
Ground’em up, roasted’em into my favorite flavor,
Brewed them slowly, and poured me that cup
Of bottomless groove we call
MUSIC.

And you, the creator of this sweet soulful brew
Are responsible for waking me up out of that
Murky brown foggy funk each morning
Knowin’ that I can’t dance, and I can’t sing
BUT when your silky soft licks hit my sleepy ears
I turn into a wild child
And I KNOW that my moves and my lip synching are
Shear entertainment for those lucky
Drivers on the road next to me
On the way to work.

Half way there, my heartbeat is racin’
The steam off your mean brew
Has clouded the car windows
And the sound of your expresso machine
Is blaring in my ears

At the exit
I’m pumped up
Ready for today
Knowing that I have the toil of your spirit
Racing through my veins

You have the courage to serve up that incredible concoction
Called your soul
To me each morning

KNOWING that music is my coffee.

Author's Note: I wrote “Music Is My Coffee” just for the fun of it and to remind myself that there are other things that can wake me up – like life itself, nature, animals, curiosity, etc. There is so much to enjoy, and joy can be contagious. This poem is also a tribute to musicians for all they contribute to our lives by sharing their musical poetry.

I became a UUCA Member June 13, 2009. I have been writing poetry since high school, where I was in the poetry club. I use poetry to get out feelings I just can’t hold in. Poetry helps me let things go that need to go, or that are too important to me to not share. I hope that one day my son (six years old now) will read my poetry and find a greater understanding of who I am, how I think, and what is important to me.