The Jazz King

I met Mikah on a cold rainy day, walking down the streets of Broadway.
He had a paper bag and it was soaked right through,
And in the tone of the desperate I asked "Mister, can I help you?"
He looked at me and said "There's no hope to be had,
These fingers are too old to have any play left". And he raised his bag and said
"This is the only way I can carry a tune, ain't got the voice no more to sing,
So no thank you." As he walked away I called out
"Are you sure there's nothing I can do?"He said "I was born to be a musician
Now those dreams are through. Tell me hun what good's a body I can't use?"
I stared at him, my mind told me to go, my feet just wouldn't move.
"I used to play guitar in a jazz bar on fifth avenue, my fingers would fly like magic,
And in the strings I found heaven."
"How long has it been since you lived your dream?" I asked
"It's been a year, maybe two." I look at him confused
"You lose track of time when you live as I do."
"What happened?" I was thinking of some great tragedy.
"I started regretting things, regretting life, lost my faith on the road in the middle of my dreams." He took a deep breathe, I could speak "What's your name sir?"
"Mikah, but they used to call me the Jazz King." Before I could tell him it was a pleasure to meet him or give my name he continued, eyes bright, lost in yesterdays.
"Don't loose sight of what you have, or take for granite any chance. Grab a hold and hold fast. It could all be gone in the blink of an eye."
Then he walked away, and even through the rain I could see the tears that Streamed down his face. The wind picked up gust and a flier landed at my feet.
'Come and meet the Jazz King' The letters jumped from the headline out at me.
I followed the address up the street talked to the manager,
He told me all about the Jazz King. How he let a woman, his best friend and drugs Destroy his dreams. Then he went on to say "The man had eyes of fire, a voice soaked in whiskey and he played like an angel kissed gypsy. The boy still has it, It's inside him roaring to get free, man I wish someone would save the Jazz King."