I go to the coffee shop almost every day,
To hear what the old folks have to say,
They talk about things from days gone by,
Some of it is truth and some maybe stretched to a lie,

They talk about the good old days when they weren't so old,
More than a few stories heard there have already been told,
But all the stories are amusing and really worth listening to,
Now and then I learn something of value or interesting and new,

They talk of the past and sometimes they smile,
Some are short one-liners and some take a very long while,
Stories tell of many things, sometimes it’s about a love lost or never gained,
In their eyes and words you sometimes see or hear the teller's pain,

Others tell of all those crazy and silly things young people usually do,
As it’s told the others smile and nod their heads for they did that too,
Then someone tells of the recent death of a character they all knew,
Each knows deep inside someday at coffee their death will come up too,

And as always with men the subject of women comes round,
They talk about all the hot young gals they know in the town,
The phrase “ if I was only 40 years younger” is said now and then,
They all node and agree how different many things might have been,

Then the pretty young waitress comes with coffee for everyone,
As she fills the cups they all smile and tease her but all is in fun,
Like most men they have the urge and know what women are for,
But like old dogs they just sit and bark but can do nothing more,

Then slowly one by one the stories fade and they get up and go,
And I think “what a strange but interesting group I seem to know.
Tomorrow the coffee shop roundtable will convene like before,
Stop on by and join in for they can always make room for one more.

by L. D. Millsap