Joe's Midnight Diner
from: The World of Particulars
I thought I knew you well
you were my heaven and hell
and I'm old enough to say that it was long ago
we stayed out late in the shadowy town
you taught me things I didn't want to know
You chopped your hair off too soon
wanted to spit at the moon
wasting away under an old black rain coat
I tried to follow you into the alleyway
places that you knew I'd never go
afterwards I used to sit at our tables
ordering coffee at Joe's midnight diner alone
Though I've never seen you since
sometimes I picture your face
smiling at someone and telling a joke
somebody told me you died in California
I thought I saw you once, called out your name
I thought I saw you
look back and run away.
you were my heaven and hell
and I'm old enough to say that it was long ago
we stayed out late in the shadowy town
you taught me things I didn't want to know
You chopped your hair off too soon
wanted to spit at the moon
wasting away under an old black rain coat
I tried to follow you into the alleyway
places that you knew I'd never go
afterwards I used to sit at our tables
ordering coffee at Joe's midnight diner alone
Though I've never seen you since
sometimes I picture your face
smiling at someone and telling a joke
somebody told me you died in California
I thought I saw you once, called out your name
I thought I saw you
look back and run away.