Literati Cafe Poetry Contest
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 9th Anniversary Poetry Contest. We were overwhelmed and inspired by your creative poems about Literati Cafe.
You were invited to write a poem about Literati Cafe with 9 lines or less to celebrate the Cafe’s 9th year, and as true Creative Geniuses, you delivered! Thank you for sharing your writing. Bravo!
With so many amaznig submissions, our Judges, Patricia Kouba (Literati Cafe Owner and published writer) and Julie Corman (World Famous Producer and former Dean of the NYU School of Film), had a real challenge determining a winning poem. So Paty decided that in addition to the winners, all participants will receive a free organic coffee or tea just for playing along.
The winners of the Creative Genius Award are:
First Place: Eric Steineger
Last Call at the Literati Café
You regret having caught them. The icons, sure of 4am’s
lax surveillance, had decided to waltz. You were
just walking past and happened to peek inside.
In a chorus of shadows, there was Al Pacino dipping
Julie Christie. Even Robin Williams focused on the count
as Marilyn offered her smile. They were waltzing!
But you hovered too long. Ray Carver seized the lights
from behind the front door. His hard stare told you
this scene was private. Tables pushed to one side.
First Runner Up: Sebastian Davis
Pick Me Up
A boy walks into a café. He lost his girl, his love, today,
And vows to write of his dismay,
But first he orders a latte.
He smiles. For in his milk a heart is drawn.
Alarmed, his sadness is now gone,
His muse pranced off like a woodland fawn.
“I can’t write of heartbreak now!”
But the barista smiles, ‘cause she knows how:
“Just use your imagination, pal.” And so he writes.
Judges Award: Rita Huang
Speak Easy
Photographs of artists stare soulfully out at me.
Actually it’s the same celeb
Ray Bradbury.
Here at my favorite table.
I call our spot my home away from home
But I only have it on a loan.
Oh, if these walls could speak,
They would say, We look good.
Write on.
Judges Award: Edy Moran
Literati Café
Day after day the routine overwhelms me,
And just the scent of your café turns my soul on,
My hungry mind in you satisfied
And my heart beats with the taste of your mint.
Nine Calendars have gone by,
Nine candles that have lit my inspiration,
Inspiration that dances at the rhythm of your sazon,
I hope your café’s aroma continues to stick to my life,
Like the dew on the roses and the breeze to the sea.
Judges Award: Kristan LaViets
Literati
Song of the Laptops – tpip tpip tick tick tick
Things in frames, Etta James
“Saloon keeper, pour me another
lemonade. Obliged.”
(Now I’ve been trying to remedy
a surplus of drama in my writing, but…)
If I am ever in a coma
I hope I dream the whole time
that I am here.
West LA Literati 