Poem: "Coffee Solves All These Problems"
Jan. 17th, 2015 03:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis is the freebie for the January 2015 Creative Jam. It was inspired by a prompt from alexseanchai. It also fills the "Warming / Cooling Drinks" square in my 12-17-14 card for the ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
genprompt_bingo fest. This poem belongs to the series Polychrome Heroics.
"Coffee Solves All These Problems"
Claire rose on Saturday morning
and put the coffee on, the rich smell
waking up body and brain alike
as she warmed her hands on the mug.
She drank one cup with breakfast,
black and sweet, her face reflecting
in the smooth surface of the coffee.
Then she had another while packing
the things she would need for the day.
Claire walked across campus
to what had been a student dorm
before Easy City bought it and turned it
into the Laguardia Residence Hall
for homeless veterans.
It gave them a place to stay and familiar company,
convenient to various stores and restaurants
plus the campus itself for those who wished to study.
The whole place was swarming with activity
as students helped make it more homey.
Horticulture majors dug in the raised beds
to plant herbs and flowers, or carried
houseplants up the front steps.
Other students brought boxes filled with books,
fragrant with the scent of paper and leather,
donated by various libraries and the campus bookstore.
On the way in, Claire crossed paths with Poindexter
lugging an enormous box with a picture
of a deep green slow cooker, plus a cookbook
balanced somewhat precariously on top.
"This is from Gumbo Ya-Ya,"
he said. "What are you bringing?"
"A French press," she said.
"It makes twelve cups of coffee.
The French club chipped in to buy it."
The students and various other benefactors
were trying to make sure that every common room
had something nice in it for the new residents.
Housefather Arturo Santos directed people
with the confidence of a traffic cop,
routing the veterans to bedrooms.
Housemother Edna Beauregard guided
the students bearing gifts to common rooms.
Claire helped Poindexter put down
the slow cooker and its cookbook in Suite 108,
then headed to her assigned location
around the corner in Suite 107.
Valentina, also known as Neon Girl, was already
in the bathroom left of the door, stocking it
with shaving equipment and men's cosmetics.
"Hi," she said. "I brought stuff to make the guys
more handsome, but looks like they don't need it!"
Two young men in wheelchairs, Holden
missing his left leg and Donjae missing both,
grinned and laughed at her remark.
A middle-aged man in a white t-shirt,
who introduced himself as Reno, was
dextrously cracking eggs in the kitchenette with
a super-gizmotronic arm evidently controlled by his mind.
"This coffee maker is from the French club,"
said Claire. "Thank you for your service."
"You're welcome, and thank you for your support,"
he replied. "We want to do all kinds of things,
but we're not in top shape, we're tired,
some of us feel a little low. Coffee
solves all these problems!"
A boy who looked no older
than Claire came into the suite,
led by a golden retriever in a sturdy harness.
"Watch your step," Poindexter warned
at the same time the men in wheelchairs
chorused, "Trip hazard, twelve o'clock!"
although the guide dog stopped short of it.
The three of them quickly dragged the luggage
out of the way so the new boy could enter,
the residents directing him toward a bedroom.
Claire recalled that the veteran housing program
intended to capitalize on their familiarity with
communal living and team bonding to foster
new ties that would give them a support network.
Hopefully some of them would later move
into an apartment or a house together.
She set up the French press while
Valentina measured the coffee and water.
"Wake up and smell the coffee!"
caroled the blind boy, Jaimeson, drawn back
into the kitchenette by the dark aroma.
Claire thought she could sense her gift working,
a subtle shift in luck that should help
improve life for this little household.
Poindexter gave her a discreet thumbs-up
to confirm it, which made her smile.
Coffee couldn't fix everything, nor could
her superpower, but they could definitely
make a lot of things better.
* * *
Notes:
Housemother Edna Beauregard -- She has ruddy skin, short blonde hair, and blue eyes. She served in the Army for eight years, with two tours of duty, before retiring to raise a family. Now she works as the housemother at the Laguardia Residence Hall for veterans in Easy City. Edna collects army memorabilia and has a whole display case of toy soldiers.
Qualities: Master (+6) Organization, Expert (+4) Combat Veteran, Good (+2) Collector of Army Memorabilia, Good (+2) Mediation, Good (+2) Nurturing
Poor (-2) Nearsighted
Notice that Terramagne-America has allowed women in combat for a lot longer than our world has.
Housefather Arturo Santos -- He has tinted skin, gray hair, and brown eyes. He served in the Navy for twelve years, which is where he learned to cook for the masses. Now he works as the housemother at the Laguardia Residence Hall for veterans in Easy City. Arturo enjoys tinkering with things and repairing items rather than replacing them.
Qualities: Master (+6) Leadership, Expert (+4) De-Escalation, Good (+2) Galley Cook, Good (+2) Handyman, Good (+2) Honest
Poor (-2) Low Education
Reno Cardenas -- He has tinted skin, brown eyes, and black hair starting to go gray. His left arm is severed near the elbow, replaced by a super-gizmo that he can control with his mind. He served for twelve years in the Air Force. Now he lives in Suite 107a of the Laguardia Residence Hall in Easy City. Reno loves playing poker and other card games. He dislikes underground or windowless spaces.
Qualities: Expert (+4) Veteran Pilot, Good (+2) Card Games, Good (+2) Fast, Good (+2) Steady
Powers: Average (0) Super-Dexterity
Poor (-2) Claustrophobic
Holden Morrisett -- He has fair skin, blue eyes, and light brown hair. He is missing his left leg near the hip and uses a wheelchair. He served in the Marines for three and a half years prior to his injury. Now he lives in Suite 107b of the Laguardia Residence Hall in Easy City. He enjoys playing wheelchair basketball and memorizing the stats of other players.
Qualities: Good (+2) Marine Veteran, Good (+2) Followship, Good (+2) Honorable, Good (+2) Memory, Good (+2) Wheelchair Basketball
Poor (-2) Choosing His Own Path
Donjae Roberson -- He has brown skin, brown eyes, and very short black hair. Both legs were severed near the hips, so he uses a wheelchair. He served in the Navy for just over two years prior to his injury. Now he lives in Suite 107b of the Laguardia Residence Hall in Easy City. He enjoys playing wheelchair basketball and collecting basketball cards.
Qualities: Good (+2) Dependable, Good (+2) Leadership, Good (+2) Navy Veteran, Good (+2) Spatial Intelligence, Good (+2) Wheelchair Basketball
Poor (-2) Hates Flying
Jaimeson Tate -- He has brown skin, one brown eye, and nappy dark brown hair worn short on top and shaved at the sides. He is fully blind, his left eye missing and his right nonfunctional. He navigates with a guide dog, and wants to learn how to pinpoint people with his other senses. Prior to his injury, he served as an Army sniper, but it wasn't even a year before he was sent home with a medical discharge. Now he lives in Suite 107a of the Laguardia Residence Hall in Easy City. Jaimeson prefers playing dice to cards, and particularly excels at Pirate Dice.
Qualities: Good (+2) Dice Games, Good (+2) Keen Senses, Good (+2) Making Friends, Good (+2) Sense of Humor, Good (+2) Veteran Sniper
Poor (-2) Fully Blind
* * *
"We want to do a lot of stuff; we're not in great shape. We didn't get a good night's sleep. We're a little depressed. Coffee solves all these problems in one delightful little cup."
-- Jerry Seinfeld
In our world, New Orleans is taking steps to get homeless veterans off the streets. There are ways you can help homeless and other veterans.
Houseplants, desk plants, flowers, and herbs can make people happier. Learn how to care for raised beds and houseplants.
Reading can make people happier too. Old books smell like home to many people, thus create a sense of security.
A French press can make up to 12 cups of coffee. Some people think it tastes better than coffee made in other ways.
See the 8.5 quart slow cooker and the cookbook. You can also find many crockpot recipes online.
Bread makers like this 3-pound model have several advantages.
Brewing coffee, baking bread, and simmering soup are among the smells that cheer people up.
Good cosmetics can boost confidence for men as well as women.
alexseanchai. It also fills the "Warming / Cooling Drinks" square in my 12-17-14 card for the genprompt_bingo fest. This poem belongs to the series Polychrome Heroics."Coffee Solves All These Problems"
Claire rose on Saturday morning
and put the coffee on, the rich smell
waking up body and brain alike
as she warmed her hands on the mug.
She drank one cup with breakfast,
black and sweet, her face reflecting
in the smooth surface of the coffee.
Then she had another while packing
the things she would need for the day.
Claire walked across campus
to what had been a student dorm
before Easy City bought it and turned it
into the Laguardia Residence Hall
for homeless veterans.
It gave them a place to stay and familiar company,
convenient to various stores and restaurants
plus the campus itself for those who wished to study.
The whole place was swarming with activity
as students helped make it more homey.
Horticulture majors dug in the raised beds
to plant herbs and flowers, or carried
houseplants up the front steps.
Other students brought boxes filled with books,
fragrant with the scent of paper and leather,
donated by various libraries and the campus bookstore.
On the way in, Claire crossed paths with Poindexter
lugging an enormous box with a picture
of a deep green slow cooker, plus a cookbook
balanced somewhat precariously on top.
"This is from Gumbo Ya-Ya,"
he said. "What are you bringing?"
"A French press," she said.
"It makes twelve cups of coffee.
The French club chipped in to buy it."
The students and various other benefactors
were trying to make sure that every common room
had something nice in it for the new residents.
Housefather Arturo Santos directed people
with the confidence of a traffic cop,
routing the veterans to bedrooms.
Housemother Edna Beauregard guided
the students bearing gifts to common rooms.
Claire helped Poindexter put down
the slow cooker and its cookbook in Suite 108,
then headed to her assigned location
around the corner in Suite 107.
Valentina, also known as Neon Girl, was already
in the bathroom left of the door, stocking it
with shaving equipment and men's cosmetics.
"Hi," she said. "I brought stuff to make the guys
more handsome, but looks like they don't need it!"
Two young men in wheelchairs, Holden
missing his left leg and Donjae missing both,
grinned and laughed at her remark.
A middle-aged man in a white t-shirt,
who introduced himself as Reno, was
dextrously cracking eggs in the kitchenette with
a super-gizmotronic arm evidently controlled by his mind.
"This coffee maker is from the French club,"
said Claire. "Thank you for your service."
"You're welcome, and thank you for your support,"
he replied. "We want to do all kinds of things,
but we're not in top shape, we're tired,
some of us feel a little low. Coffee
solves all these problems!"
A boy who looked no older
than Claire came into the suite,
led by a golden retriever in a sturdy harness.
"Watch your step," Poindexter warned
at the same time the men in wheelchairs
chorused, "Trip hazard, twelve o'clock!"
although the guide dog stopped short of it.
The three of them quickly dragged the luggage
out of the way so the new boy could enter,
the residents directing him toward a bedroom.
Claire recalled that the veteran housing program
intended to capitalize on their familiarity with
communal living and team bonding to foster
new ties that would give them a support network.
Hopefully some of them would later move
into an apartment or a house together.
She set up the French press while
Valentina measured the coffee and water.
"Wake up and smell the coffee!"
caroled the blind boy, Jaimeson, drawn back
into the kitchenette by the dark aroma.
Claire thought she could sense her gift working,
a subtle shift in luck that should help
improve life for this little household.
Poindexter gave her a discreet thumbs-up
to confirm it, which made her smile.
Coffee couldn't fix everything, nor could
her superpower, but they could definitely
make a lot of things better.
* * *
Notes:
Housemother Edna Beauregard -- She has ruddy skin, short blonde hair, and blue eyes. She served in the Army for eight years, with two tours of duty, before retiring to raise a family. Now she works as the housemother at the Laguardia Residence Hall for veterans in Easy City. Edna collects army memorabilia and has a whole display case of toy soldiers.
Qualities: Master (+6) Organization, Expert (+4) Combat Veteran, Good (+2) Collector of Army Memorabilia, Good (+2) Mediation, Good (+2) Nurturing
Poor (-2) Nearsighted
Notice that Terramagne-America has allowed women in combat for a lot longer than our world has.
Housefather Arturo Santos -- He has tinted skin, gray hair, and brown eyes. He served in the Navy for twelve years, which is where he learned to cook for the masses. Now he works as the housemother at the Laguardia Residence Hall for veterans in Easy City. Arturo enjoys tinkering with things and repairing items rather than replacing them.
Qualities: Master (+6) Leadership, Expert (+4) De-Escalation, Good (+2) Galley Cook, Good (+2) Handyman, Good (+2) Honest
Poor (-2) Low Education
Reno Cardenas -- He has tinted skin, brown eyes, and black hair starting to go gray. His left arm is severed near the elbow, replaced by a super-gizmo that he can control with his mind. He served for twelve years in the Air Force. Now he lives in Suite 107a of the Laguardia Residence Hall in Easy City. Reno loves playing poker and other card games. He dislikes underground or windowless spaces.
Qualities: Expert (+4) Veteran Pilot, Good (+2) Card Games, Good (+2) Fast, Good (+2) Steady
Powers: Average (0) Super-Dexterity
Poor (-2) Claustrophobic
Holden Morrisett -- He has fair skin, blue eyes, and light brown hair. He is missing his left leg near the hip and uses a wheelchair. He served in the Marines for three and a half years prior to his injury. Now he lives in Suite 107b of the Laguardia Residence Hall in Easy City. He enjoys playing wheelchair basketball and memorizing the stats of other players.
Qualities: Good (+2) Marine Veteran, Good (+2) Followship, Good (+2) Honorable, Good (+2) Memory, Good (+2) Wheelchair Basketball
Poor (-2) Choosing His Own Path
Donjae Roberson -- He has brown skin, brown eyes, and very short black hair. Both legs were severed near the hips, so he uses a wheelchair. He served in the Navy for just over two years prior to his injury. Now he lives in Suite 107b of the Laguardia Residence Hall in Easy City. He enjoys playing wheelchair basketball and collecting basketball cards.
Qualities: Good (+2) Dependable, Good (+2) Leadership, Good (+2) Navy Veteran, Good (+2) Spatial Intelligence, Good (+2) Wheelchair Basketball
Poor (-2) Hates Flying
Jaimeson Tate -- He has brown skin, one brown eye, and nappy dark brown hair worn short on top and shaved at the sides. He is fully blind, his left eye missing and his right nonfunctional. He navigates with a guide dog, and wants to learn how to pinpoint people with his other senses. Prior to his injury, he served as an Army sniper, but it wasn't even a year before he was sent home with a medical discharge. Now he lives in Suite 107a of the Laguardia Residence Hall in Easy City. Jaimeson prefers playing dice to cards, and particularly excels at Pirate Dice.
Qualities: Good (+2) Dice Games, Good (+2) Keen Senses, Good (+2) Making Friends, Good (+2) Sense of Humor, Good (+2) Veteran Sniper
Poor (-2) Fully Blind
* * *
"We want to do a lot of stuff; we're not in great shape. We didn't get a good night's sleep. We're a little depressed. Coffee solves all these problems in one delightful little cup."
-- Jerry Seinfeld
In our world, New Orleans is taking steps to get homeless veterans off the streets. There are ways you can help homeless and other veterans.
Houseplants, desk plants, flowers, and herbs can make people happier. Learn how to care for raised beds and houseplants.
Reading can make people happier too. Old books smell like home to many people, thus create a sense of security.
A French press can make up to 12 cups of coffee. Some people think it tastes better than coffee made in other ways.
See the 8.5 quart slow cooker and the cookbook. You can also find many crockpot recipes online.
Bread makers like this 3-pound model have several advantages.
Brewing coffee, baking bread, and simmering soup are among the smells that cheer people up.
Good cosmetics can boost confidence for men as well as women.
Thank you!
Date: 2015-01-18 04:02 am (UTC)