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.

[Allen Smuckler]

Can't wait for the sequel Coyote...the young man's Tale
however, YOUR story was compelling and forthright...you laid it all out there for us to see
You let us into your life and shared some valuable lessons and discoveries...
But the soundest words you said were in the Author's note: If you don't like the road you are on, find a better one....No truer words ever spoken
Great write Coyote with layers upon layers of sage advice and insight
well done.
allen

[Coyote Poetry]

I tell my kids. Many reasons for failure. Need to go forward and find something better to do. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Rafia ~ Yellow Girl]

Changes come often, welcome and face them well... very well defined and the story running through the poem is very interesting... It reminded me of Shakespeare's All the world's a stage... It reminded me of different phases of life... And your poem showed those phases quite nicely!

[Coyote Poetry]

We will change often. I tell the kids. Keep going forward and don't look back. Thank you reading and the comment.

[shallimarRose]

I love this.. It just feels so open and real... I love listening to old stories .. This made me feel comfortable somehow.. So glad I saw your posts.. xo Rose

[Pax]

"He told me. He lost his first love. His job was no good. He saw nothing good for him anywhere."
~ in what that man said many could relate, we all lost something and felt nothing good for us anymore... but i always do what's best for present and treat a brand new day with a welcome smile...
i find this good wisdom: Better to be positive and hope for a good landing ~ on which i follow so well in my own wisdom... be positive as you can be, life never ends with a single stroke of mistakes or happiness... there are many more to come despite how life is so short in some cases...

great write my friend...

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading. I roamed the bars for 20 years. Old timers are wise. We can learn from people who had lived.

[Pax]

your wisdom is valuable my friend... and your most welcome!

[Ed Hart]

promises, promises, oaths and oaths, but primates have short memories, and fresh bananas look good in the next tree

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I like the idea of "change" in this one. The way that so vividly showed the bitterness of certain aspects of life, but then the hopeful turn that shows we can, in fact alter our courses in life. To lay down and die in the face of tragedy is to be defeated...to rise up is to be brave.

[Soul Fire]

Very good lessons are taught in this story. A heartwarming tale of life,love and loss and the courage to continue and keep moving forward well done(:

[Coyote Poetry]

We must go forward. Even when we don't want to. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Soul Fire]

Very true. I needed to hear this. I've moved on from a dysfunctional romantic relationship, but its obvious that he hasnt he texted me today. But I continue to ignore all contact with him I am happier withot him in my lifen it sounds harsh...but for my own health, and happiness I nrededbto eliminate gi from my life.His negativity and dysfunction and our relationial.issues were too hard to handle and ibhad to.let him go..

[Coyote Poetry]

Best to leave the bad things behind. Block the phone and change your routine. .

[Soul Fire]

My phone company says they can't block the number.So I just ignore his messages and delete them.He stoped messaging.me for over a month and he just randomly texted me today...whoknows why I've never texted him back.or talked to him since we broke up months ago.

[Sam]

Like a rock cast in a pond the effect a friendly ear has on people is strong. Change is inevitable so learn to soar high on the winds ever changing. Cheers to a great work of art. Thank you for sharing.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Sam for reading and the comment.

[Sam]

Anytime! I love poetry... words in motion I call it.

[Edward]

A very nice, touching, and inspirational write. I know that I've been on that road a lot of times, although my road is still young. I've changed many paths. This poem has helped me. Thank you for sharing :)

[Arun.J]

wow! nice..
I love it