Coffee Love

I never fail to think of you
With fresh coffee brewing
The smell permeating my kitchen
Wafting through the air
Filling my space
With memories

You are in my cup
I taste you thinking
As you read your newspaper
Coffee at the ready

Ah coffee!
Your chosen elixir
No piece of pumpkin pie
Chocolate cake
Banana bread
Or oatmeal raisin cookie
Fresh from the oven
Would be complete
Without that coffee

No matter how much
You craved that cake
You would wait
For coffee by your plate

Copyright 2020 by Gareth Mann Sitz

This is a simple poem I wrote after my husband passed away. I use a lot of memories in my personal work. I find it therapeutic to put my thoughts and feelings on paper. My personal work is quite different from the public poetry I write as Poet Laureate. It’s a real challenge each time I’m requested to write a poem that would normally be out of my comfort zone. It is getting easier for me as I grow into my role, and I am so grateful to be able to serve Elgin and share my love of poetry.

Prospective applicants to be the next Elgin Poet Laureate might want to practice a bit writing Elgin based poems. In the application process, submitting one or more poems about our city will be required. For starters, think about what you love about Elgin as a jumpsuit for a poem. Those poems will be shared in-person in February as a Valentine to our awesome city. Many LOVING ELGIN poems may be seen on our website. Read, enjoy, and write your own. And remember:

A poem
cannot be
good or bad
the way milk
can be
sweet or sour
or a berry
ripe or green

A poem
can only
speak for itself
and if it reaches
one person
only
that is
enough

Copyright 1994 by Gareth Mann Sitz(

(Published in my first chapbook in 1996, with the support from a grant from the  City of Elgin’s Cultural Arts Commission))

September 8, there will be a reception for me at Gail Borden Public Library, something that couldn’t happen when I was first selected, due to CoVid restrictions. Refreshments will be served, and I will share some of my poetry and discuss poetry projects
for the coming year. You will have a chance to meet some of our other local poets as well. If you have ideas, please come and share them with me.