I ventured into a small café today

Where I was greeted with a friendly smile

“Where you folks from”, I heard him say.

“Glad you could drop in and sit for awhile.

                             Yet,

I heard little of what he said, for I was lost,

In the sadness of his of his melancholy gaze.

I placed my order and to my seat I went.

I watched him work as if from afar.

 He filled my order from beneath a stainless steel tent.

Yet, somehow I knew his mind was lost

On days gone by on days he has done spent.

With a sadness filling my heart I watched in empathy

I watched as he dipped this, I watched as he spread that

 And I listened as the radio played a soft old tune,

one in which the old singer Perry Como crooned.

“One enchanted evening, you will meet a stranger,

you will meet a stranger, across a crowded room”

I listened, he smiled, he hummed a little, he cried.

What was this day that he was in? I heard myself say.

What love was he recalling, did he see her across,

an imaginary room? Or was he with sadness

just remembering an old love that no longer was,

but one that had died.

With my order complete I stood to pay, he smiled

A sad smile, and I went my way. I looked back as if to

Speak, but thought better of it at this time.

For across the kitchen With invisible partner in tow,

 he danced and smiled to Perry Como.

I dropped my head, and went my way,

For I shall never forget my visit to

 the Café Nostalgia today.

J. Allen Wilson © 2003