it was just an all-night diner
in the middle of the town,
a couple blocks down from the hotel
they put me up in,
and right across the street
from the induction center
where i would go in the morning
for my physical.

it was dark outside,
but the diner was clean
and the lights inside were welcoming,
and the guy at the counter
didn't seem to mind
that all i ordered was a piece of apple pie
and then sat there most of the night
drinking cup after cup of coffee,
and playing the same song
over and over on the jukebox....
The House Of The Rising Sun.

for some reason that song
was calming to me...
i don't think i paid attention to the words,
but the rhythm and the music
and the instruments, the way they were played,
set well with me,
and i listened to that song
for a few dollars in quarters
as i drank my coffee.

when it was 7am
i left a five dollar tip on the counter
and walked across the street.

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