He was there every night
“Tickling the ivories” as we used to say
Sam was a big man
Who caressed the piano until first light
“Play it again Sam”
“Here’s looking at you, kid”
We used to tease him with famous lines
From Bogart’s movie “Casablanca”
Sam was always a true gentle man
Whenever he started to sing
The patrons would quieten
And let his voice warm the room
One night, not too long ago
Sam was at the piano, softly playing
Our favourite song “As time goes by”
When a loud voice shattered the calm
A Frenchman who had too much to drink
Had pulled a gun when asked to leave
Sam seemed to know him, or so it appeared
Sam rose from his piano and calmly said
“Go back to Victor, that’s where you belong
If you don’t go back, you will regret it for the rest of your life”
“But what about us?” asked the Frenchman
“We will always have Paris” Sam gently answered
Poet's Corner 
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