October 7, 2004
He sets himself near the doorShoulders curved and looming
They know him for an empty Whiskey
They know him silent, unassuming
Blinks and eye, bends an elbow
Lights an empty Caballero
Without a turn he sweeps the room
Voices rise and fade and cheer
Familiar faces, all well known
And he knows no one here
They have seen him, near the door
Nights on nights and the night before
His omniscient eyes cast ever down
Burning thought into the bar
Keeps the smile for himself
Keeps his back, the door ajar
What they want, he lets them see
"What they know, they know not me"
A fastened fixture without a name
Though they've all their hellos
What lies beyond an empty Whiskey
"What they want, they never know"
All they say, he lets them speak
"What they know, they know not me"