The café
She walked into a smoky café
That happened to be along her way
Upon the stage a band was playing
The band leader was slightly graying
She ordered a coffee, black and hot
It was too bitter; she liked it not
She paid the waiter and took a seat
The band had trouble keeping a beat
Her neighbor asked if she had a light
The flame pierced the darkness of the night
In the corner sat a lone young man
He wore a hat and had a deep tan
He sat there, staring deep into space,
As if he was in another place
She felt sorry for him, all alone,
And guessed his feelings were like her own
The band played a different song, still jazz
She looked down at the ring that she has
From an old flame, now long-forgotten
Bitter aftertaste, truly rotten
She noticed the young man’s eyes were green,
The brightest color she’d ever seen
She tried hard to read his expression,
And she saw he was full of tension
She was mesmerized, captivated
And did what she had contemplated
She got up, walked over to the man
If anyone can help, then she can
She asked gently if she could sit down
The man said “yes,” although with a frown
Silent once more, he stared at his hand,
While their neighbors applauded the band
She asked, “Have you ever been in love?”
By this time, the man had had enough
He asked, “So, you don’t remember me?”
He moved closer, sitting knee-to-knee
She felt uneasy and quite afraid
He spoke again, though his nerves were frayed
“That’s the ring I gave you as a gift…
A rotten waste of money,” he quipped
It was him – she just couldn’t believe
She just wanted to get up and leave
He said, “Sit down, please, let’s have a talk,
Or, if you’d prefer, we’ll take a walk”
He asked why she left ten years ago
She couldn’t believe he didn’t know
“I was pregnant and, well, scared,” she cried,
“But after two days, the baby died”
She sobbed, “I blamed you for everything,”
And then, slowly, she took off her ring
“I loved you, Johnny, without a doubt,
But all I wanted was to get out”
“I loved you, too; I’d have loved the kid,”
He held up a hand, his tears he hid
“But why,” he asked, “couldn’t you tell me?”
“That’s simply the way it had to be”
She slowly stood up and walked away
There was nothing else for her to say
She left the ring and walked out the door
He tossed it with disgust on the floor
The band now played a happier song
He still didn’t know what he did wrong
Softly, he ordered another beer,
Dreaming, as always, that she’d stayed near
17 September 2009
