First All Out Praise Poem, Second Draft

I love the praise poem form and have never used it. I wanted something to wake people up on Sunday afternoon and make them glad they were not outside on what will be a gorgeous day so I thought I'll praise them and give them an opening unlike anything they would ever imagine for a "Literary Afternoon" in Yelm. The venue is The Blue Bottle, a local landmark.

The praise poem is a sacred invoaction type of literary genre for the Yoruba people of western Africa. It is also in many other peoples traditions in Africa. The bottom line is it should make you feel. I hope to increase the satisfaction in the afternoon, the vision of the people who make the Blue Bottle happen every day and especially this day. I wish it to increase our happiness.




Song of Praise for the Blue Bottle




I see Genius at the Blue Bottle

I lift my pen, I tap the keys, I drink my tea to the genius
Genius at the Blue Bottle

Holy Michelle extends her generous spirit
Her spirit reflected in glass the color of healing for the genius
Genius at the Blue Bottle

Praise be blue, be it sky, bird or tarp; the color is Stellar’s
Around us in the bottles that held the nectar of the gods
Decanted in toasts to genius
Genius at the Blue Bottle

Glory to the baristas who call us by name and remember
What we had to do yesterday when they ask us today
How’d it go? That is genius
Genius at the Blue Bottle

Bounty to every mouth, mind and pocketbook that has opened
In these rooms – Genius!
Genius at the Blue Bottle

Abundance to the people who set the table and welcome us in – Genius!
Genius at the Blue Bottle

Blessings to ones who make a place for meetings and groups and minds – Genius!
Genius at the Blue Bottle

As we sit, dance or stand in the embers of those that have passed through here
Sit, dance, stand and kick!
Kick up the embers, add some new fuel
Fan the flames for this moment you are Genius
Genius at the Blue Bottle



Ah, free wi-fi is always genius.