The 3 am prayer

Just words

                  The 3 am prayer

The dance hall closed down at 2 am in Belton, Texas. He would go to the Belton Lake, drink the Jack Daniel and howl at the moon. Maybe he was half crazy, maybe he descended to his self-made hell.

Dead brothers made me join a war to dance with death and kind death told me. Not yet dear Poet. The paradox of the running man escaping to no-where. Is one day, he shall find his silence. Be alone.

Crazy soldier sat alone singing on the sand to the Texas half-moon. It was hot as Hell and he walked into the warm lake. He laughed at the stars and he told them. Another foolish man doing the 3 am prayer. Praying for better days , praying for a better place to be. Praying for a lady, so damn gone.

The whiskey was losing the edge and he drank the bottle dried and he whispered. Men who dig their own graves, just lay in shallow places, never dying. Just living for war, drink and easy women. 

Last year he went home and he learn. He became a stranger to who he was. Dear sister told him, the war killed his soul. He told her. Must have a soul, for the soul to be murdered. He called Jenny and she was kind to the traveling soldier. She had learned the coldness of life and she allowed him in the door and he knew. He was locked-out of her heart. Dear Jenny befriended him and they learned together.

"We die, we live.

we love, we hate,

We laugh, we cry.

We dance, we may sing.

In the end, we learn. 

Old heart can't be broken too often.

We shall become ghosts, forgotten and broke."

He waited for the sun to rise and in the morning. Found some food and he tried to find some sleep. As the morning sun rose. He wrote some names into a journal.  Maybe friends, maybe old lovers. Maybe just bloody ink for the writer's heart. Maybe the temptation of new place, new faces and the drink. The Poet's wealth.

                  

                          Dancing Coyote

 

Author's Note

Just words.

Reviews

[Allen Smuckler]

This is another terrific write, Coyote...
I too have had 3 p.m. revelations, and inspirations (they often come at the strangest times).
such wonderful imagery throughout...I could feel...almost touch your words of expression... loved the story you told... beautiful.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Katrina Mckeown]

Such wonderful use of imagery, I felt like I was almost watching a film , I enjoyed going on this journey with you and your character felt like someone I’ve known.

[Coyote Poetry]

We will know many people who gave-up. It is very sad when the young person give-up. Thank you Katrina for reading and the comment.

[Light and ashes]

I love your writing. I am a sucker for writings like yours about love and traveling to far away places. Take care dear poet and soul.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my dear friend for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Light and ashes]

You're welcome dear Coyote.

[barleygirl]

This is one of your best! I love how vivid & realistic this guy becomes for us, reading your words. We bounce between having BEEN this person & having KNOWN this person, so recognizable are your word portraits. There's an art to selecting the right details to make a reader know & feel your character using so few lines (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Margie. We must madness to know sanity.

[Nefertiti Virtudes Ahme..]

Wow. This has so many layers to it. It’s very well written and put together. My favorite part is the final paragraph. As it ties everything together. “The poets wealth” being the idea of people and their value to life. Haha, I could be wrong but either way well done. Kudos!!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Poet for reading and the comment. Old age had taught me. We dig our own grave. We are the master of our destiny. Where we landed. We deserved.

[Neville]

there can be no denying you wield a pen so deftly and leave behind a timeless legacy...to all those you have loved and love... like a poetic signature or thumbprint and even more importantly, you leave sound advice for those that visit your pages.... Seasons Best sir..

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Neville. I appreciate the kind words my friend.

[Samael]

My grandfather used to watch all these old shows, the guy gets his heartbroken after he returns from war and goes to the bar to forget he ever had a heart. This shows just what the guy is actually going through, very well written and I like the little word of advice at the end
"We die, we live.
we love, we hate,
We laugh, we cry.
We dance, we may sing.
In the end, we learn.
Old heart can't be broken too often.
We shall become ghosts, forgotten and broke"

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Samael for reading and the comment. No-one wins in war. The young men and women pay for the greed of the leaders.

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! powerful emotions at work here .. the mind and heart can be complex and undaunting in their thirst .. a curse of sorts no doubt .. i am totally drawn in to the setting, scene and this man ..a compatriot brother .. closing lines a killer says i ..can not help to think of one of everyone's favorite beat generation poet Bucowski .."The Poet's wealth" indeed! thanks for sharing this heart felt and almost wretchedly vulnerable poem ... thanks for sharing Coyote Man!
E.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend for reading and the comment. The Poet's wealth, sometime all we left.

[Deborah Leah Krempa]

Quite nice.Well written. Thank you for sharing...

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Deborah for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.