VEGA, Suzanne
    
      
    
      
    
      
    Tom’s Diner
    
      
    
      
    I am sitting
  
In the morning
At the diner
    On the corner
    
      
    
      
    I am waiting
  
At the counter
For the man
    To pour the coffee
    
      
    
      
    And he fills it
  
Only halfway
And before
    I even argue
    
      
    
      
    He is looking
  
Out the window
At somebody
    Coming in
    
      
    
      
    "It is always
  
Nice to see you"
Says the man
    Behind the counter
    
      
    
      
    To the woman
  
Who has come in
She is shaking
    Her umbrella
    
      
    
      
    And I look
  
The other way
As they are kissing
    Their hellos
    
      
    
      
    I'm pretending
  
Not to see them
Instead
    I pour the milk
    
      
    
      
    I open
  
Up the paper
There's a story
    Of an actor
    
      
    
      
    Who had died
  
While he was drinking
It was no one
    I had heard of
    
      
    
      
    And I'm turning
  
To the horoscope
And looking
    For the funnies
    
      
    
      
    When I'm feeling
  
Someone watching me
And so
    I raise my head
    
      
    
      
    There's a woman
  
On the outside
Looking inside
    Does she see me?
    
      
    
      
    No she does not
  
Really see me
Cause she sees
    Her own reflection
    
      
    
      
    And I'm trying
  
Not to notice
That she's hitching
    Up her skirt
    
      
    
      
    And while she's
  
Straightening her stockings
Her hair
    Has gotten wet
    
      
    
      
    Oh, this rain
  
It will continue
Through the morning
    As I'm listening
    
      
    
      
    To the bells
  
Of the cathedral
I am thinking
    Of your voice...
    
      
    
      
    And of the midnight picnic
  
Once upon a time
    Before the rain began...
    
      
    
      
    I finish up my coffee
  
It's time to catch the train