By: Jake Puffenberger

He took his life like he took his coffee
Light on the sweetener
Heavy on the cream
Just enough to take away the harsh edge
Bold
Fresh
He made it himself, always
No coffee shops or machines
Something valuable about the process
He sipped it slowly
Savored every scent and nuance
The flowery top notes
The bitter undertones
Occasionally he shared
With a loved one or friend
“Sip it too fast and you’ll get burned”
He always cautioned
Rarely would he experiment
With exotic beans or new roasts
He reveled in the quick rush of energy
But before the cup was fully drained
He dumped the rest
Cleaned his cup
And hanged it overhead.