the morning club

the old men in fedoras

sat on the benches

by the trout pond

behind the state capitol

in the morning

before it got too hot

remembering anzio

and palermo

and the good times

to be had in naples

and rome if you

had hersheys

or nylons or camels.

then they came home

and bought bungalows

and chevys.

when the cool

of the morning wore off,

they retired to denny's for coffee

and grand slam specials.

afternoons they could spend

at the crest theater

for air con matinees,

doze through an old western

or something with

a hollywood blond.

the chevys and bungalows

were long gone.

so were the blonds.

but they still wore fedoras.