Cafe de tristesse

down at the cafe

on the corner of the street

they stand around and mutter

their tales of sad defeat

stories of defection

leaving home for good

headed for the hopeless

of the wasted neighborhood

blown away by deep despair

their world is torn apart

their pockets are as empty 

as  lover's broken heart

the future is an unknown

a question still unasked

the past is all forgotten

like a lover's face all masked

1995