The whiskey and the beer.

Easy to hide in the wrong things.

                          The whiskey and the beer

A whiskey and a beer was the song we sang to each other.

We found each other hiding in a corner in a  dark Austin tavern. We fell together.

Not to celebrate life but to celebrate death.

She told me. "I was a beauty once and many desire my attention."

I kissed her whiskey soaked lips. Told her. " Beauty is one more bloody thing to blind us from the truth."

"Now we are ugly with disappointment. It don't matter, beauty isn't what we need now."

I ordered a pint of good English lager and a double shot of Jack Daniels.

We sit together daily. Two strangers with no place to go. Somehow misery bring two confused people together.

Somehow we become one for a time. Trying to rebirth the desire for flesh and life.

Even the flesh become less needed with no hope and dreams. I wrap my arms around her in the late night.

Trying to give comfort to someone fighting dead and old ghost and pain.

I wake up. I release her and make some morning coffee.

I pour the coffee into my cup. I add some Jim Beam to give the coffee strength.

She awake. Her tire eyes looking at me needing a kind voice and coffee.

I pour her a cup of coffee and add some whiskey. I told her. "We will be alright."

                               Coyote
                               1985

Author's Note

A old poem. Drinking lead you to no-where.

Reviews

[quinfinn]

drinking may lead nowhere but, it led you to her. this is a wonderful story. there are many wonderful poets on this site but you, John, are one of the very best storytellers there is. your writes always enthrall me and i always come away from your poetry with some sense of experience, and i almost always find some relevance to my own life. this write is no exception. thank you for sharing this chapter of your life ....awesome

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a little trippy with some of the spellings...

but wow, yes, two strangers having that moment...but both knowing they aren't what they once were because life hasn't exactly been too kind to them...and the rough miles show.

i like this ...and felt a little awkward..because you made it so real with your dialogue and description, i felt i was sitting next to them, listening in.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Beauty is one more bloody thing to blind us from the truth.

Brilliant line. Outer beauty can be very deceiving... the beauty within is the truth that sets us free.

[rnuff]

Poweerful, deep read.

[Holly Mason]

written well
felt like I was there in my bar having a long night
thank you for sharing

[Frieda P]

Misery sure does love company, and sometimes what we need to get us through the night, captivating read, you're a genius at storytelling in your poetry John.

[KurKota]

This writing reminds me of the days that I owned a neighborhood Bar & Grill..... this scene played out many a night in that place, with many different customers. A very reminicent reading ! Thank you for sharing it with us. Nice job. I could almost smell the stale beer and cigarette smoke, mixed with strange perfumes, once again.