Coffee beans spill upon
The nicely swept and tiled floor--
Why do I work here?

Espresso covers
The counters--my manager
Yells at me again.

How many times do
I have to tell you? he asks
And I ask why me?

The irish cream has
Disappeared once again and
It gets blamed on me.

Joey's Java just
Opened right across the street--
Maybe I'll apply.

Oh, why did I start
My working career at this
One horrible place?

Oh, Starbucks Coffee,
I curse thy corporation,
As I take my leave.

ode to Starbucks

(c) 2000 Krissi M.

for those of you who came to find out what my stupidity was, in the Fifth stanza, "Joey's Java" was "Barnes and Noble", and right after I finished the poem I realized... Barnes and Noble's coffee IS Starbucks.... sigh....