CAFE 52               9-29-2001

cafe 52 is an indispensable oasis 
in the midst of a busy city 
a friend to rutgers university 
a friend to all who enter 
for some of us it is also an 
island of safety to which we can go 
to enjoy the peace and serenity 
of our own thoughts 
to discuss the contemporary issues
of the day
or just to either escape from 
academic pressures or to quietly study 
over a cup of coffee or a really 
great cappuccino

here is where i met heather 
who worked the counter and i spent 
countless hours with her discussing 
the poetry of sylvia plath 
i maintain a literary love affair with 
her by letter to this day
alexi judged well in having her work here

masa worked here too 
a remarkable beauty 
inwardly and outwardly 
she has two hundred of my poems 
to me she is more goddess than woman 
i love that woman 
that effulgent spirit


then there's my friend phil 
a friend of 13 years to whom i am 
also a mentor since i am 25 years,
his senior
he meets me here daily 
offering me good, solid conversation 
and comfort in times of distress

last but not least there's alexi 
the proprietor to whom i have 
often told that he runs a good shop/ 
his appreciation of my daily patronage 
as in house poet and general scholar 
shows in his great kindness to me

i am pleased to be his customer 
for he was the one who made 
this cafe attractive as a center 
of culture through his hard work 
and dedication
that provides us with an atmosphere 
of beauty, ease and comfort

beautiful mirrors and a place to 
smoke inside
what more can one ask for?

my friends and associates here 
are numerous but they have all 
read my poetry
they are my key readers and critics
i appreciate and value their friendships

i sit in the tranquility of the 
back yard meditating on how 
unique this cafe is 
we in new brunswick are fortunate 
to have alexi's cafe 52 
where everybody understands you 
for the individual that you are...