Jack

I sit alone in corners,
keep two walls at my back.
Watching out for wanted ads,
and women dressed in black.
Coffee or a bourbon,
a cocktail or a beer,
I wait for things to happen
while I'm sitting here.
The barkeep has a stutter,
the waitress is a Greek:
the pancakes come with butter
my smoke plays hide-and-seek.
Do you dream in dollars?
I'll take my wishes in cash.
If you can fake a promise,
I'll take you to my stash.
Just leave me in the corners -
everything's what it seems -
this movie's shot in black-and-white,
the colours of my dreams.
Jake calls in from Chinatown,
Marlowe from the Boulevard,
both will tip me a trilby hat
and I'll smile like a playing card.