The walls and the damn mirrors

Can't hide what we became when we see our reflection in the mirrors

                           The walls and the damn mirrors

My father told me the Devil like to dance at dawn.
He like when the night overcomes the day.
He told me. No-one is pretty with age and abuse.
Life is fair for all people. We kill all the goodness inside.
Leaving bloody greedy people wanting selfless pleasure.
Not concern with the ending. Only concern for the self-gain.

Old dad told me he didn't like the mirrors. He saw the Devil.
He said. "Men dwell in s**t and announce he is in paradise.
Men devour life and poison all things he touches.
He drank at least one quart of rum daily. I asked him why?
He said rum blind me from the past and the future.

I found dad sitting alone late at night in the kitchen often.
He would talk to dead friends left in the Korea war dirt.
He would touch the walls and told me.
These walls and damn mirrors hide no secrets. I'm lock-up.
Walls with doors can be prisons when a man had no place to go.

He tried to escape a few times. I would go with him.
He would drive west till he fell asleep. He wanted to go to California.
To find a dead friend grave. He made it to the grave later.
I didn't know if he found the peace he needed.

Old dad didn't blame the war. He accepted who he was.
He told me often. You will go to school. You will never have anyone
look down at you like they did to me. I was a Ojibwa/Mexican with
no real place to call home.

Old dad left me in 1996. Rum and war killed off his insides.
I learn with 15 year in the service. My father was like many old Soldiers.
Found peace in the bottle of rum, gin and whiskey.

I have became like my father. I don't like the walls and the damn mirror.
You can't hide what you are and what you became.
I don't drink anymore. I do like to dance at dawn with the devils.
I live now for other people. Kids need old dad around for a while.


I see my father face now in the mirror.
I told my kids the same things. Go to school and never allow
anyone to look down at you. No bigger sin than to downgrade
a person for the color of his skin and where he is from.

                        Coyote/John Castellenas

Author's Note

A new poem. I hope you enjoy.

Reviews

[captain]

This piece can touch many hearts. I too hate those damn mirrors, you can't help but see beyond the stare. You'll always see how far you've change over time. Having a glimpse of the eye then within the soul, is like diving into a very deep waters, drowning you, making breathless. Sometimes it is too much, but i do bear with it, I need to look good for not wanting my loveones to see the real sad soul behind the happy pretend person that I am. I could very much relate to its sentiments sir.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you captain. Sometime I think of old dad. I have great dislike for Politicians willing to send young men and woman to war without discussing peace. War leave a country wounded for a long time.

[captain]

welcome, sometimes we can't control what we can't solve, so they do it the hard way.

[K.]

Jeez, your writing gets me every time, great job. I am in love with this line, "Walls with doors can be prisons when a man had no place to go". It's just so true! Very raw and real poem. You seem to have a way of just purely opening up and releasing your thoughts without any trouble; your words always flow so naturally. Great last stanza.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Kassie. I appreciate you reading my words and the generous comment.

[Vidya Bacchus]

This is very sad .Sometimes our worst enemy is ourselves .The face in the mirror judging us is our own.

[Coyote Poetry]

Yes you are right. The hardest person to forgive. Is our self. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Vidya Bacchus]

You are very welcome John :)

[Cryingkate]

Here you speak of the Walls, The physical restraints and afflictions.
This is a bit from your norm.
Most other of your writes you Speak from the Spirit, where there are no Walls or Constrictions.
They are spoken with heart of hope and love, a path to true Freedom.
Mirrors are a good thing they show us where we are, no matter what we see , it is a good thing.
Because we always have a choice to change, No One can take our Spirit path away from us.
No one can steal our Joy unless we let them.
Each has there own journey, no one can take it or write it but us.

Connie

[Coyote Poetry]

Just old words for my father. I did follow his path. My good friend of 16 years in the service was killed in 2004. I went to his grave and tried to find peace. War is no good for anyone. Leave both sides with wounds that cannot heal. Thank you for reading and the comment. I'm well. I have my children and three grand-boys who keep me sane and alive.