Coffee

A sweet tawny 
surrounded by yellow 
inside of black 
sitting on counter 
of marbled gray
calico or brindle 
depending upon where 
you are standing 
two tea lights 
swim in crystal 
ponds near but
not next to 
the naked salt
cellar and pepper 
mill giving way
to the vase
a nervous debutant 
or her mother 
holding her daisies 
smiling upon me
the photographer of
this morning’s tableau