Those of us who truly knew and loved Christie Casher know that she probably would have forgiven us for being so late in posting this poem … or maybe not. Either way, we couldn’t let Christie’s birthday pass by without sending this beautiful poem — the winner of the 2015 Christie Casher Memorial Scholarship — out there into the world. This one won us over because it somehow reminded us of something that Christie would have written herself, owing to its references to coffee/coffee stains, doing time as a waitress, and an attraction to a slightly dangerous character. It is just “so Christie,” while being a beautiful poem in its own right.
Congratulations to the winner of the Christie Casher Memorial Scholarship for 2015 — Anne Gloeggler. And happy birthday to our dear friend Christie. You are so missed.
You left me
A twenty dollar tip
Because you spilled coffee
On my new, white dress.
Your medium roast skin
Felt scaly
When you paid me.
I shied away from the cracks in your lips
When you called me sweet–
Like the honey skinny girls used
Instead of sugar.
Sin rolled off your breath
Like steam,
Purchased at the liquor store
Just one door over.
You were smooth
At first.
But your bite was bitter, stale.
Your dark roast touch,
Left my light roast soul
Deep in the pit
Of my stomach.
I didn’t think
About my new white dress
Until you left it with
Coffee stains.
–Anne Gloeggler
Make a donation to the Christie Casher Memorial Scholarship Fund to support a young poet graduating from Long Beach High School and to keep Christie Casher’s memory alive.
The Christie Casher Memorial Scholarship Fund 