In the heart of Tokyo, a café resides.
Funiculi Funicula, where time confides.
A steaming cup, a whispered plea,
A chance to walk down memory lane, you’ll see.
Time travelers share their hopes and fears
In the cozy ambiance, where the past reappears.
Within those walls, a chair with a secret to unfold,
A journey through time, a narrative to be told.
The café holds magic, not for the faint,
A fleeting journey, etched with deep constraint.
The past and present in a delicate dance,
A narrative that lingers, a temporal trance.
The coffee must stay warm, a ticking clock,
For in the past, change finds no rocky dock.
In the corner, a woman with longing eyes,
Her heart whispers secrets, in time it lies.
A quest to rewrite a moment gone by,
To change what cannot be undone, yet she must try.
One seeks forgiveness, a wound unhealed,
Another craves a love, forever sealed.
A mother yearns for a son gone too soon,
A sister seeks solace beneath a waning moon.
Each journey fraught, bittersweet, and brief,
A glimpse of what was brings both solace and grief.
The stories brewed in that coffee cup,
Whispers of lifetimes, never giving up.
So, in this cafe of wonders, where tales are retold,
Let the words linger, let the emotions unfold.
In the essence of coffee, a universe untold,
Just remember: drink the coffee before it gets cold.
This poem is inspired by Toshikazu Kawaguchi's book “Before the Coffee Gets Cold.” The story is set in a café in Tokyo, serving carefully brewed coffee for over a century and providing a unique experience: time travel. A specific seat, when unoccupied by a ghost on a break, can transport them to a chosen time. However, there are rules.They can't leave the seat, they can only meet past visitors, and any changes don't affect the present. Most crucially, they must return before the coffee gets cold. The narrative revolves around café staff, Kazu, and four customers with unique stories. Fumiko aims to mend a relationship, Kohtake searches for her husband's letter, Hirai seeks reconciliation with her sister, and Kei, a café co-owner, attempts to communicate with her unborn daughter. The novel's underlying message is that while the past is unchangeable, the future is open to possibilities.
Being a fan of time-traveling myself, when I found this book it immediately became my favorite and whenever anyone asks me for a book recommendation, I always tell them to read “Before the Coffee Gets Cold.” This book holds a meaningful message of cherishing moments with the people that you love and making the most out of the time you have together. It emphasizes the unpredictable nature of life, where the chance to see someone again may be uncertain. Once people that you love are no longer present, all that remains are memories and shared experiences you had with them. You’ll only realize the importance of someone once they’re gone.
This book is so captivating it almost transported me to Funiculi Funicula. I was captivated by the storytelling, well-developed characters, interconnected stories, and the thought-provoking message about embracing the present, all amidst the mystical backdrop of a café that transcends the ordinary. Kawaguchi's writing is simple yet evocative, capturing the everyday warmth and intimacy of the café. He skillfully navigates the complexities of human emotions, showcasing the characters' vulnerabilities, regrets, and desires. The stories are bittersweet, tinged with nostalgia and an understanding of the fleeting nature of time. While time-traveling is not the main focus, it serves as a springboard for exploring timeless themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and acceptance. The book does not shy away from difficult topics, prompting reflection on the choices we make and the consequences they hold.
Overall, this book is a 10/10. If you're looking for a good read that explores genres like fantasy, romance, fiction, and slice of life, you will definitely love this book as much as I did.
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