Which Takes More Courage?

He was a once per week customer, early Sunday afternoons, religiously, (pun intended) within an hour of Church letting out. He drove a Mercedes 280 SL, sported a three piece suit, french cuffs, Windsor knotted silk tie and wing-tipped Florsheim shoes. A rather polished and distinguished man of years, as evidenced by his neatly trimmed silver hair and 'stache, and overall impeccable grooming. My first impression was one of an unsociable loner. He was always gentlemanly polite but didn't come in to socialize, but seemed rather content to be left alone with his Tanqueray martini, with twist, and his thoughts. I remember the look in his eye was many miles and years away. Then the song came to me: "Right or left at Oak Street, that's the choice I make every day, and I don't know what takes more courage, the staying or the running away."

Martinis and Memories

Martini in hand, an older man
reflects on days gone by
What wouldn't he give, could he relive
that time he caught her eye.

'Twas in his youth, before vermouth
she walked into his life
But he couldn't ignore the one before
the one he made his wife.