I thought
it was a part of growing up,
drinking coffee
without milk

Turns out,
it happens
when you don’t have milk
week after week—

I know, stop right there,
don’t even bother to tell me
I know, I know, you just forgot.

And maybe you started to think
the corner store, so close, but yet
not worth your time
or energy.

You tell me there is value
in simply sipping something
you once thought caustic, and worse
you’ve noticed, it started to taste good.

Begin to worry, what will come
what else you’ll compromise
to make this world work
the way you imagined,
or didn’t.
Or maybe don’t,
but at least keep thinking.

For the morning,
that must be enough.