
Coffee Cup
Another poem inspired by that crazy Acentos workshop last Sunday I keep talking about. Comment as you please.
I was never an empty cup.
I was never a lifelong experience before.
I was never a sniffle, a sneeze, or a trifle.
I was never a drip, a snip, or a clip.
I was never a tumbleweed
Bouncing through indicating dearth of life.
I was never a fine.
I was never a small claim.
Though I’ve definitely been a warning.
I was never a small shoelace
I was never a thread
I was never a strap
I was never a minute hand
My experiences move at hours at a time.
I was never a blink
I was never a simple character.
I was never a small dosage.
I was never a simple sheet of looseleaf
Gliding in the wind wrought with nonsensical words and illustrations
I was never the simple piece of the puzzle
I was never a simple strand of hair
I was never the rubble, the scraps, the leftovers frozen
Readily reheated for easy consumption
I was never stardust
I was never just one digit
I was never just one stroke
I was never worth just one touch
I was never satisfied with just one kiss
I was never an easily disassembled package
I was never a note
I was never an alien
(Just kidding, I was never above a little white lie)
I was never an empty cup
Even as you drink, the cup fills until my handle whittles;
Its remnants aside the coffee grinds …
My name is Jose Luis Vilson, teacher, writer, public speaker, activist, Syracuse University and City College grad, poet, hip-hop enthusiast, and (certainly not least) father. I've been featured at CNN, Huffington Post, Education Week, Scholastic, TEDx, and GOOD Magazine. For more,
Some know me as Jose. Others as Mr. V. Educator, writer, activist, and father. Here I'll be posting thoughts in all those voices. 
Jose Vilson
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this….there are many favorite pieces in this puzzle of a poem that add up to something undeniably good. Will have to track back and read about this workshop.
Delightful. I like how each line lead to something linked to what you’re not. Well done!
Delightfully playful. I like the way each line links to the next. Well done.
Hey Jose,
I hope I twist your brain in good ways. I had an idea too. Maybe we can make it happen this summer. Talk to you at the workshop.