By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo

I always take brewed coffee at home, from freshly-ground beans bought from various places, and those sent to us by friends from their travels. On very rare occasions, I have my coffee at McDonald’s. Whenever I do, I remember Philippine National Artist for Literature F. Sionil José who intimated that he bought his coffee from this fastfood chain, being adjacent to Solidaridad Bookshop which he owned on Padre Faura Street, intimating that the brew is fresh and relatively better than those offered by more expensive coffee shops.

I do like the taste of McCafé Brew. This is even before I read a poster launched in September 2016, which I chanced upon only yesterday, declaring that “McDonald’s only uses the finest grade Arabica beans from South and Central American Rainforest Alliance Certified farms for its McCafe brand.” I like it as much as the fresh brew at Dunkin’ Donuts, and the choices at Bo’s Coffee. These are good places to go, when I miss having coffee at home, and whenever we run out of coffee grounds from Bukidnon, Sagada, Batangas and from the coffee farms of my sister Emma’s friends.

 

McCafé Brew

even if, at the moment I could
separate the noise outside
from the privacy of my thoughts
they encroach, surreptitiously
in my dreams
the child whose video games scream
as loudly as her mother’s conversation
on her mobile phone
the teenager’s laughter,
as loud as thunder, watching TikTok
the blaring pipe-in music at McDonald’s
slicing through rare, momentary silences
with one redeeming intermission:
the old woman’s impish giggle
from escaping her probation officer
ordering, “plant one hundred trees!”
a punishment from a previous violation
to which, she retorts: I’m a senior citizen!
displaying on the table, all the capsules
she bought from Mercury Drug
as if, being old in itself, is absolution

to each his own, it seems
in this existence, defying authority
defying reason, free from guilt
and restitution
except for the brew,
a crack at redemption

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