CHAPTER 21
The world remains always the same; situations are repeated;
one people lives, loves, and feels like another; why should not
one poet write like another? The situations of life are alike,
why then should those of poems be unlike?”
JOHANN VON GOETHE
Have you practiced so long to learn to read?
Have you felt proud to get at the meaning of poems?
Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess
the origin of all poems.
WALT WHITMAN, Leaves of Grass
1. Satisfaction Guaranteed
A stand was set up in front of the Martian Headquarters offering free
introductory cups of the new beverage. Roy held forth with solemn
fervor, expounding on the unprecedented coffee to all that would
listen and since most people would accept anything if it was free, they
figured it would be an easy giveaway. But somewhere along the line,
the public had become very choosy about their coffee.
“Martian coffee?” One man said, “Never heard of it. Sounds too
gimmicky,” and walked on by.
“Where do you get your beans from?” said another. “I really
prefer Guatemalan Antigua over the rest.”
“Where in Ethiopia?” a teenager on a skateboard asked, “The
region really makes a difference.”
“Is it organically grown?” demanded an old lady with a walker.
People who couldn’t point to Ethiopia on a map knew the names
of regions that many Ethiopians themselves had never heard of.
But a few adventurous souls took the beverage from Sprout’s
outstretched arms and were duly impressed. “Jesus. That’s really
good,” one more poetic soul said, “Tastes like earth and sky and air
and water and…and, I don’t know. Tastes like everything.”
Many people came back hours later wanting to buy bags of beans,
but Roy had to inform them that they didn’t have enough. This was
just a promotion to stir up interest.
“Well, how long ‘till we can buy some? Is there a waiting list?”
ABYSSINIA
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