April Anthology 2018: college-corner cafe (04/10)

I visit a silly, babbly sort of refuge

Full of stranger’s talk and muffled music

With sweet and pungent smells at its centrifuge.

Above the calming clatter there’s a scree

Of some small metal monster’s feeding time.

It munches roasted beans or ice

Then falls asleep again.

The shop’s symbiosis is nice.

The shelves and counterpanes are guarded

By small silent friends of wood and porcelain.

Their patient watchfulness rewarded

By gifts of knitted garb, and patrons’ attention.