REQUIUM FOR A CAFE

the basic elements cafe on church street, 
new brunswick, n.j.
a bold experiment in providing a congenial atmosphere 
for people interested in poetry and the arts/ 
a refreshing departure from the starbucks 
around the corner

richly decorred atmosphere with elegant sofas 
and the beauty of hardwood tables 
only the choicest of gourmet coffees

i had come to know the owners fairly well 
and they welcomed my placing my poetry on display 
for free public distribution 
the owners would tell me that people would take 
my poetry and discuss these poems among themselves

i had four excellent poetry readings there 
and these readings did much to enhance my 
reputation as an already established poet 
held in high regards by the hundreds of people 
to whom i gave away my poems

it is as regrettable as it is unfortunate that 
this sublime experiment in cafe life 
had such an ephemeral lifetime: 
it was a matter of only a few months 
until their demise as a business

what should have become a strong asset to the city 
of new brunswick
simply didn't make it/
of all the cafes in the city i strongly preferred 
this environment in which to read

my audiences were superb

against the forces of fate there are few defenses 
and its demise i would ascribe to fate 
but during its short existence 
it made quite a positive impact on me

let me just say that i am grateful that it 
existed at all
and will endure in my mind for a long time to come...