Sestina Exercise: The Miracle on the Panuco

As a writing exercise for my Creative Writing class we are give the task of attempting to write a Sestina. A Sestina is a six stanza, six line per stanza poem. The challenge with this particular style is that there are a list of six words that must be included at end of each line: one word per line, using all six words in each stanza. Each stanza uses the same six words but in a different order each time. Normally there is a three-line tercet at the end of a sestina but I have not done that.

The six words in this case were:
Coffee
Crumb
Balcony
Miracle
Sun
River

The following is my attempt at a sestina.

The Miracle on the Panuco

I have only drank coffee
once. Even then no more than a sip; a crumb.
It was on a  small island, where a balcony,
by some miracle,
floated aloft. There was no sun
there, only a river.

That island was lower than the river,
Where I once walked. Though others bought coffee
I walked in the hot sun,
Seldom eating more than a crumb.
Surviving by little more than God's grace; a miracle.
And only there I found peace, on your balcony.

I have never, my self, owned  a balcony,
Nor anything near a river.
Though either would be a miracle.
Until I can, I'll share your morning coffee,
Eat all my crumbs,
And wait for my day in the sun.

It's in the winter that I miss it most, the hot sun
Burning my skin while I watch it from your balcony:
El Rio Panuco. There holding my last crumb
Of birthday cake, the waters of that river
Dark as the colour of coffee,
I saw a miracle.

Life is full of many a miracle,
As certain as the rise of the sun,
Or a fresh pot of Tim Horton's coffee.
So, I sat there on that blacony
Watching the gentle motion of the river;
On my plate just a crumb.

Attached forever to that crumb
My memories, to that miracle
Are, and the reflection of the river
Against the sun
Stick to me from that balcony.
And still I have drank no more coffee.