he came in

carefully

hung up his cane

 slowly

sat down

easing into

a booth

by himself

facing the door

welcomed

by the staff

who knew

his name

jim

ordered

his coffee

 he sat

 waited

 greeted

the regulars

as they arrived

invited one

to share his booth

 sit a bit

 he smiled

 said no

 and still

he sat

  welcoming them all

 as they

paid homage to him

 reaching out

connecting

with

a nod

a smile

a quick hello

as he held court

in the front booth

 his morning spent

in the

local coney island

connecting

and

feeling

a part of the world.

—