He walked into the restaurant
So cold the icy wind outside
His weathered face and eyes looked tired
Dear Noah bade him sit
The old man shook his head

He gazed around then seemed to look
That he found what he sought to find
What seemed a smle did cross his lips
A tear rolled down his cheek
He turned to Noah and said

"That waitress with the snow white flow'r
Pinned to her dark hair give this note
After I leave and not before."
Dear Noah bade him to
Give her the note instead

Strange customer went back outside
Into the icey cold and dark
Tear frozen to his weathered face
Leaving the note behind
Knowing it would be read

'Twas closing time and Noah called
The waitress with the flow'r in hair
Gave her the note and told her of
The stranger who came in
She opened it in dread

"Dear Dawn, your name for you were born
A morning oh so warm and bright
I saw you and my heart was filled
With happiness to see
You're not a bit like me."

Dear Noah locked the doors that night
Looked out into the ice and snow
Saw something odd across the way
He ran outside to find
The strange customer dead

Dear Noah pondered  this a while
The weathered man who seemed to smile
Was I the last who kindness showed
This strange man from the storm
Police sirens ahead

Jane Noponen Perinacci