brown leather jacket

the brown leather jacket
a hard Texas drawl
the dour old person smile
these were the first things i saw
the light was sadly dim
coffee still being poured
i returned an awkward hug
felt reassured
this wouldn't be a long romance
more like a fast friendly chat
i paid my table bill
grabbed my hat
left the restaurant
no sense of defeat
just another person
i didn't have to meet
polite no doubt and warm
forgiving and sincere
but without personality
or any laughter i could hear