Change

Change is needed when we are locked in. Never know what is around the next turn?

                                  Change

I sat with a kid of 23 at a Austin, Texas tavern.
Consumed with anger and disappointment.
He told me. I'm dead. Killed off all friends and love is dead and buried.

I ordered him and me a double shot of Black Velvet whiskey.
I told him. "Drink with me to woman missed. People we hurt and wounded. Drink
with me to things gone and can't be repaired."

He drank the drink.
Asked me. " Can we  escape the things we did? Do you live with it or seek forgiveness?"

I laugh at him and told him. " Hard to do the right things always. We change and the people
and the world around us fall behind or a head of us. Better to be positive and hope for a good landing."

He told me. He lost his first love. His job was no good. He saw nothing good for him anywhere.

I order another double of Black Velvet. I told him.
Life is hell sometimes. Changes will happen often. Love isn't fair.
Today we drink Black velvet for my first love. I lost her 30 year ago.
A German beauty who promise me forever and forever was very short.

Words can become meaningless with age.
Mistakes will be many.
I found sweeter and better love in life later. My German girl did teach me.
Love with all you got. Hold on tight and enjoy the ride.

Change is life.
I have changed my life four times completely.
I was a soldier and lover once. I was a working and successful business man for a time.
I rejoined the Army for war to escape sadness. Now today I'm old and gray.
Phrase four of my life is a Grandfather who know to cherish family and good times.

My new friend smiled. He asked me could he tell me his story?
I told him. "Old tavern and old men have time to listen. But you decide your life. Dance, sing,
travel and test life. Suicide board or surf  in the great storms. Climb to the highest peak and ask God for advice and watched the hawks and eagles fly. Learn from love mistakes and become a better lover and man. "

I smiled. I told the young man. "I will listen. Night is young and the music in good in the old tavern tonight.

The kid held wisdom. Ordered another double of Black Velvet. He raised the shot glass and spoke. "To your German girl and for my lost true love. Thank you for the dance and I tried to remember the good days."

We touched shot glasses and he told me his tale.

   Coyote
                                    July 2013

Author's Note

Changes will come often. Don't like the road you are on. Find a better one. Never know what you can find?

Reviews

[Tina Kline]

A very moving tale. To be a good friend and listener and having someone who is a good friend and listening are so very important. We all need someone to listen to us because life is always changing,
bring sadness and happiness, good times and bad. And its always nice to have friends and loved ones along for the ride.

A wonderful poem Coyote Poetry.
:)

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Tina. I have been on both sides of this conversation.

[Lokesh]

a kind of classy. some sentences are like that of old classic english poems. enjoyed it.
-lokesh

[Lamis]

I loved this one! A very touching little talk between the two that holds true wisdom within it. Life must be lived, nothing more, nothing less.
Well done :)

[Akshat♥]

Please order double of Black Velvet for me too :D
It is kind of a poem and a story together :)
If we have faith..we will always get a better path than the older one :)
Positive poem straight to the heart..
Lovely Coyote :)
Keep Penning!!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for the kind words and reading. I do appreciate.

[Akshat♥]

You are always welcome dear :)
Try to read my poems :)

[Rita L. Sev]

A profound lesson in a very real and engaging write. You have told a story in this vivid piece of prose, and have me nodding in agreement with your note to find a better road if you don't like the one you are on.

[Coyote Poetry]

Old wisdom. I learn and did often. Better to change life than slowly died in a bad one. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[closed]

this was really well written in that it nigh attempts to be full on prose
i was captivated by this mini-story of the youth and yourself
i am interested in your work good sir

[Aubrai]

It reminds me a lot of the nights I've sat next to my dad, talking about life, the annoying permanent changes. The irony of and agony in life. How we searched for our dreams for the longest time and how we destroyed them for the shortest time.

He said, "Patience. It will be well paid off."
"When?" I always asked.
"In time."
"Does He know we're soaked in this mud?"
He would nod and would say, "He knows. Someday, your time will come."

I never listened to him. I mean, really listened to him. If I didn't, I wouldn't be sharing this.
But I couldn't comprehend the bizarre way of life.

Anyway, without anymore self-punishing reminiscence, I thank you for sharing this story.
It's like having a second opinion about a diagnosed disease.
Now, I believe everything. I'm ready to believe.
Thank you,
Aubrai

[Coyote Poetry]

Most of us learn by living and making mistakes. I miss the conversation with my father. We can learn from our elders. Thank you for reading.

[Aubrai]

Thank you for sharing this, giving us a chance to read a wonderful piece.

[one sky]

I was captivated by this stanza, especially the last line...

"I order another double of Black Velvet. I told him.
Life is hell sometimes. Changes will happen often. Love isn't fair.
Today we drink Black velvet for my first love. I lost her 30 year ago.
A German beauty who promise me forever and forever was very short."

A promise. A promise of forever love which lasted for a very short time. That's a sad truth about change. Change is inevitable. Places change. Even people change. So under that "forever", she made up her mind, it was change.

This is a nice piece, Coyote. Nice concept. The flow is good. Some good lessons are expressed.
Grande!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Margauz for reading and the comment. With age. We accept change with less struggle.

[poetdoug]

Thanks for sharing with all of us the advantages of growing older and wiser. We can learn from our mistakes which does help to redeem them I believe.Your words remind me of the Persian Proverb: on Prudence: Trust in God, but tie your camel." Change comes to us all, but you have done a wonderful job of showing us just how to make the best of it---lemons into lemonade, as it were. Thanks again my "Coyote" friend!

[Natasha]

What a great and enthralling story to be told to the audience. I think a lot of us can relate to many of the struggles present in this poem. You never know what someone else has gone through in life, but just a speck of optimism or kind word can really uplift someone, even if they are a stranger or someone new. Great write.