Different café, another time,
a seat by a steamy window,
hot chocolate with cinnamon,
and I’m sitting opposite her,
the last time we met,
before I left and we never
saw each other again.
I was naïve, excited,
eager to explore,
and she was so much older,
teacher and mentor.
She encouraged me to fly,
widened my horizon,
big ambitions, simple tastes:
hot chocolate with cinnamon.
Kim M. Russell, 15th November 2019
My response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Timetravel – Flashbacks with Björn, also linked to Poets United Pantry of Poetry and Prose
Björn is here with his last Toad prompt and he wants us all to remember and look back – using flashbacks.
He reminds us that a ‘flashback is a memory that is so strong that it pulls you back in time to another moment, maybe more pleasant than present or more horrific. That means that you stay in the same tense as the rest of your poem (often present tense)’. To do this, we need something that ‘creates such a vivid memory’ that we travel in time. He gives examples of such triggers, such as grandmother’s scent or a song on the radio.
Björn asks what would pull us back in time? How would it change our present state of mind? Would it help to make a difficult decision? Would it make us happier, sadder or angry? He says our poem or flash-prose can be fiction or non-fiction, it just has to be new.
Inspired by Shay (Fireblossom), I’ve written fifteen lines for 15th November.
writing in north norfolk 
Such comfort and warmth flowing through this poem – how wonderful simple daily pleasures are
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Thank you, Jae.
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Hot chocolates at that cafe must carry a new note of bittersweetness now that you know it was the last meeting. Still, warmth oozes from this piece, like a creamy filling. It’s a blessing to have someone like that in our lives, even if its just for a short time.
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She was my German teacher for several years and gave me sanctuary when I needed it, as well as encouraging me to try new things. She was right behind my move to Germany when I was a teenager.
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Oh wow, 15 lines for the 15th! I’ll take any credit I can get, barely deserved or not! 😉
This poem is absolutely lovely. Most of us have had those mentors and I know mine meant an awfully lot to me in my life. I sometimes stop and wonder if I’ve lived up to what they believed I could be.
Love that picture too–it totally suits the poem, and makes me want hot choco myself right now!
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Thanks Shay!
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Now see, you tricked me by linking to Poetry Pantry, too! 😛
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😊
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Cinnamon is definitely a trigger for memories!
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At the time, I thought it was very continental, very grown up!
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Thank goodness for those mentors who help us along our way and show us the ropes.
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It doesn’t take much – just a sprinkle of cinnamon.
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I really love the simple flashback in that taste… how we can be impacted by a mentor and how they can come back and give encouragement through the simple taste of cinnamon.
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Thank you, Bjorn. I’d never had cinnamon on hot chocolate until she encouraged me to try it.
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We never forget those that helped us the most. A very good descriptive scene.
Hope you’ve stopped sneezing! 🤧
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Thank you, Viv. I got caught in the rain yesterday, completely drenched, so I’m still fragile and sneezing. I stayed in all day today, tucked up in a rug, reading The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker.
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Poor you! Get well soon. What’s the book like?
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Thank you, Viv. The book is brilliant. I’m up to the final chapter and should finish it this morning. It’s about the Trojan war and captured queen, Briseis, who is condemned to be bed-slave to Achilles, the man who decimated her family. Pat Barker takes Briseis the footnotes of history and makes her the protagonist of her own tale. Quite shocking and bloodthirsty in parts.
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Good one! I’ll pop it on my list😊
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What wonderful memories Kim.
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Thank you, Linda.
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FYI- comments for my post have (again) been enabled
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Thanks Viv. I noticed they’d been disabled.
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I’m having trouble with the app- I think I’ve figured it out now😊
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I love that you wrote about your mentor … mine was my flute teacher for years.
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Thank you, Helen.
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I like this, but WP won’t register the like or accept my e-mail for registration.
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Had another go and at least the comment worked
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Thank you so much, Derrick!
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Delicioso! I loves me some café poem, Yessir.
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A perfect vision of two people sharing time, words and the beverage of choice at a café in a discussion of times past and future dreams. Thank you for allowing me to see, Kim.
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Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Smell and taste are such powerful triggers… I want some of that chocolate and cinnamon potion!
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Thank you, Rajani. I ‘d love some hot chocolate with cinnamon right now too!
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Such a gorgeous write, Kim! ❤️ I love the image; “a seat by a steamy window, hot chocolate with cinnamon,” it describes nostalgia and the events waiting to unfold so well! 😀
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Thank you, Sanaa! 😊❤
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She added some spice to the brew of two.
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Ripe with nostalgia.A mentor and friend in a young life is a blessing.
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Thank you Rall.
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Thank heavens we find mentors along our path, to put some wind under our wings and tip us out of the nest. Smiles.
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Thank you, Sherry.😊
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What a powerful memory. These people and these shared moments are so pivotal. And the accompanying tastes and smells, like hot chocolate with cinnamon, recreate them fresh in our minds so we can benefit again and again from the inspiring traces of the Adelheids in our lives. Really lovely moment to read, Kim. Very well written. Thank you!
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Thank you so much!
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A wonderful autumnal scene, hot chocolate and cinnamon and the idea that a slight change can be miraculous.
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Thank you, Wyndolynne!
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Taste and smell, warmth and comfort, sweet and spicy. (Hot chocolate and cinnamon is a favourite of mine). There is such a feeling of nostalgia mixed with new beginnings.
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Thank you, Lori.
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I love the way that this piece unfolds. The ‘unfolding’ of a poem, doesn’t seem to come up that much in comments, does it? But for me, if a poem unfolds eloquently and exquisitely – as this one does – I notice it. It seems to have the effect of imbuing the words with a wonderful authenticity … and that is a lovely thing in writing.
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Thank you, Wendy. I also enjoy unfolding poems.
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My flashback poem works on similar lines. This was so relatable in setting and even the story.. I liked reading this.
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Thank you, Pratibha.
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Lovely! Taste and smell can be so evocative.
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Thank you, Rosemary!
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A little encouragement can go a long way, especially when given by one respected. I’m glad that you wrote this, a reminder to us in education. Thank you, kim.
..
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Jim.
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Such a warm, cozy memory, sparked by a quintessential scent of autumn. Lovely poem.
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Thank you so much, Barry.
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I love memories attached to food. They feel stronger (and more contagious) than others. I don’t know this lady, but I’m certain that the next time I have hot chocolate (spiked with a bit of cinnamon) I will think of this poem. And of people who affect us deeply.
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Thank you Magaly. Taste and smell memories are very strong for me too. I’m going to have a hot chocolate when I visit Ellen and Lucas on Thrsday.
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