John Q. Mars
Americano
He presses his lips to the surface
—anticipating the first taste
of the caramel sweetness—
and, in his face, it shows.
As his tongue probes through the superficial foam,
I observe his slight recoil.
“Too strong for me” is all that he says,
before carrying on his way.
A time goes by ’til the next
taste-tester nears.
He comes up and gives a look-over
before appearing satisfied.
And, while wrapping his hands around,
I witness the same aversion.
“It’s much too hot, and I cannot wait”
and so he too departs.
Others, now seeming to catch on to
what it is that they want,
begin to make modifications—yet, still,
no one is pleased.
A dash of sugar,
(“A little sweeter now”)
a splash of creamer,
(“A little weaker now”)
until they all have had
a hand in the matter.
After much more time has passed
(“Oh no, a tad too cold!”)
more and more do they partake,
now being their new drink favored.
And they sip and they sip and
sip, until my cup is empty.
John Q. Mars is an undergraduate student at New York University in the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He is concentrating in poetry, philosophy, and foreign languages. His four poems in What Rough Beast are his first poetry publications.
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