THE AMALGAMATION

The grinding of the barista’s beans

reminds me of  the dentist’s high-speed drill:

both crush structure to a powder,

grinding, drilling, paradoxically

provoking anticipation of pleasure,

deferred until the brew is done.

or the dental cavity filled.

After shouting and wailing

the baby is born,

after terminal  rattles and gurgles

peace returns as the old man dies.

Bombs cease to fall when the siren stops:

rabbits emerge from their burrows

when the crashing and fires are gone.

No coffee without the grind,

no newborn without blood

no filling without the drilling

yet it is thrilling

when Beethoven, stone deaf, elegantly

composes a symphony without a sound

entering the music room in his head.