Wind whips and rain pours
A man is blown to the door
The lights burn bright and smell of coffee stays strong
Hard days have followed harder nights

Old stains color the rubber seats
Table tops are sticky
Food is cheap
Service fast

Waitress is young and quiet by nature
Man and server fall silent in spontaneous darkness
No more hum of refrigerator or sizzle of grill
Thunder blasts

Black exchanged for candles
Cold coffee drunk in desperation
Foul yet fulfilling
Small talk

Awkward pause
Sadness swells in him
Darkness builds confidence in her conscience
Outburst of her inspiration attaches to stranger

Buzz of neon’s return
Face red and flustered
She rushes to hide
He sits and ponders

No more pity
No more despair
Try to repay
Try to thank

Leaves humbly the way he came
Out door
Into the down pour
Blown by hope