The Corner Cafe

[Poppy]

The Corner Café

Just after 6 and the doors are open.
There’s the smell of fresh coffee
mixing with the smell of old grease.
“Order up” from the kitchen as the
Waitress yell’s “hold yer horses.”

The coffee club meets at table three.
A group of old gents gather each morning
telling their lies and some truths. All
of the worlds problems are solved. Ah
if that table had ears.

All the regulars enjoy the sunrise fare.
Eggs over easy, bacon and grits. Oh and a
side of biscuits and gravy. Don’t forget
the hash browns and warm molasses.
“Comin’ right up, hon.”

What’s in the morning paper? Same old stuff.
“Hey, anybody got the sports section?”
“Can I fill er up for ya?” No
I've had enough, I think I can get through
to lunch now.

See ya tomorrow.

[Pendragon]

Yeah, I'm old enough to remember lunchcounters. The Rexall Drugstore was the one here in Marion. Was also the Greyhound Bus station, a pharmacy, and knick-knack store. Still ran the lunch counter up until about 2003, though it's a small grocery now. You always bring up memory lane, Poppy. You must have a permanet post box there, maybe on old Route 66...

[Granny5]

I just like The Coffee Cup used to be! I like it.

[TheFifthElement]

I like this Poppy, you create a very visual scene, and I can almost smell the coffee. I have no idea what 'grits' are, but they sound a bit ropey to me! I especially liked this verse :

The coffee club meets at table three.
A group of old gents gather each morning
telling their lies and some truths. All
of the worlds problems are solved. Ah
if that table had ears.

There's a very warm feel to this poem; I'd love to listen in on the conversation...

[Poppy]

Pen...You can't find alot of places like this anymore or the one's you wrote about. There still around here in our rural areas of course. Just another part of our fading Americana.
Granny...its good I didn't title it the Greasy Spoon eth?
5th...grits are primarily a Southern thing. Its for all practical purposes coursely ground corn, made into a mush or poridge...and down this way topped with heaps of butter, salt and pepper. Can be served with red eye gravy..Up North I "hear tell" that they put sugar on their grits.

[motherhubbard]

Marc puts sugar on his grits and calls me a Yankie! It sounded like that place I used to work called Tim's. Once I cleaned the coffee maker from top to bottom and took it all apart and it was so clean and I was so proud- and all of the customers complained about the coffee for two weeks!

[Poppy]

Marc puts sugar on his grits and calls me a Yankie! It sounded like that place I used to work called Tim's. Once I cleaned the coffee maker from top to bottom and took it all apart and it was so clean and I was so proud- and all of the customers complained about the coffee for two weeks!

[ampoule]

I'll be having grits for supper tonight.

[TheFifthElement]

5th...grits are primarily a Southern thing. Its for all practical purposes coursely ground corn, made into a mush or poridge...and down this way topped with heaps of butter, salt and pepper. Can be served with red eye gravy..Up North I "hear tell" that they put sugar on their grits.

Thank you Poppy! Grits sound kind of disgusting, then I suppose if you described porridge it would sound disgusting too. Your comments regarding sweet vs savoury grits holds true in reverse in Great Britain concerning porridge. In Scotland generally they salt their porridge (ugh!), in England it's sugar (or honey, or jam, yum ).

See I have to ask another question - what is 'red eye gravy'?!

[ampoule]

Here's mine:

Red Eye Gravy

Slice up some ham as fast as you can,
Fry it real good till it sticks to the pan,
Pick up the ham and put it on a plate,
'bout this time they'll be runnin' through the gate,
Add a cup of cream or milk to the drippings,
Stir and stir till you scrape up the stickings.
Then find yourself a biscuit, piping hot,
Pour on the red-eye, taste what ya got!
Mmmm Mmmm good.

amp, G.R.I.T.S.

[Poppy]

Thank you Poppy! Grits sound kind of disgusting, then I suppose if you described porridge it would sound disgusting too. Your comments regarding sweet vs savoury grits holds true in reverse in Great Britain concerning porridge. In Scotland generally they salt their porridge (ugh!), in England it's sugar (or honey, or jam, yum ).

See I have to ask another question - what is 'red eye gravy'?!

5th..grits would sorta be like Polenta if you are familiar with that.
Red eye gravy is just as Amp said...the scrapings and the greasy mixture left in the bottom of a frying pan after frying ham or some other pork product. You can add a little water to. Its real salty, kinda dark red .... very good on hot bisquits.....

Amp, good one....

[ampoule]

Thanks Poppy. And also...don't thicken it with anything. It is as it is.