Texas nights.

Just some Texas poetry. One day. I will return to Austin. Write my novel.

Texas nights.

I arrived in Austin, Texas at six pm. Happy hour till nine. The one handed bartender Ted asked me. Hello Johnnie, is it a Long Island ice tea night? I smiled and I told him. Yes my friend.

Ted is kind to me. He knows I drink to forget things, I cannot. He keeps the drink a-coming. I look at the mirror and I told the face looking back. F**k you, f**k you Jennifer. F**k you Army and f**k you John.

The mirror doesn't answer back and I sense a person near. A pale skin Texas gal in the dress of the darkest black and the prettiest dark brown eyes. Wrapped her arms around me and she asked me.

Johnnie, Johnnie. You seeking death again. I told you once, I told you many times. The good die young and you are soiled with sin, you are soil with hate and you can see the real world. It is s**t. You won't die tonight.

I turned to her and I told her. Lilith, my beautiful Lilith. Where you been? I have been alone too long. I am liking being alone. I thought, you forgot me. I have been praying for your kiss, I have been praying for your voice.

She kissed my face, she kissed my lips. I kissed her neck and her ears. I told her. I miss the taste of your skin and the sweetness of your voice. Where have you been?

She smiled and she told me. You deployed for one year and I thought you have forgotten me. I loved your letters. I have every one in proper order and I am glad. You saved people in Africa, not killed them. I remember your last letter. You told me. I can't write no-more. My heart is broken.

I brought her closer and I whispered. Dear Lilith. I saw the forgotten children, I saw the forgotten people and I bury thousand who die of starvation and I could do so little. Broke my heart.

Lilith stayed quiet and she told Ted. Two more Long Island ice tea, light on the coke. She looked into my eyes and she asked me. Did your unit save many? I told her, we did what we could.

She wrapped her arms around me and she whispered. Johnnie, Johnnie. You are just one man and the world is s**t. I will take you home tonight. We will play some Hank Williams Jr. song and we will get naked and forget who we are. I love my soldier boy with the heart of kindness.

I told her. Beautiful Lilith. I don't want to steal from you. You are too kind to me. Why my beautiful Texas gal? Do you spend time with a man swimming in s**t. She smiled and she told him. All of us are swimming ins s**t and sometimes. We need someone to show us where the wildflowers dance, we need someone to show us where the sea is alive. Once you saved me and tonight I will save you.

I brought her close and I told her. Thank you my Texas wild rose.

Dancing Coyote

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I enjoyed my times spent in Texas. Texans remind me more of North Carolinians than any other state I've been to. I have two little grandchildren who are native born Texans and one born in The Old North State. I feel the sense of hopelessness woven throughout this write. That's about the worst feeling in the world, knowing there are certain things and circumstances we have no control over, no matter how much we want to help, to make it better. My oldest daughter went to Africa twice where she ran a charity program for kids until it was shut down with the near collapse of the Global Bank. She lives in Alaska today with her husband (a special forces Master Sergeant) and my three beautiful grandchildren. I miss them all but I do regular video chats and calls. My oldest granddaughter has learned to mush a sled team (hers is small and only has two dogs) but I'm so proud of her. She called to tell me about passing her instructor on the trail. It's beautiful country up there and they send me pics of the Northern Lights and the wildlife. I never had any love affairs with women in Texas but I seen my share of Texas beauties. I met a few rich oil tycoons and some cattlemen and ate some prime beef barbeque though. I enjoyed the read, my friend. Keep writing from the heart.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Fabian. I loved Texas too. I never had a bad night.

[W. Barrett Munn]

You always dig deep johnnie and always find truth in the well.

Winston

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Winston for reading and the kind words. I went to Africa three times on food, water and medicine missions. I learn, my life wasn't so hard.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Interesting, Johnnie, that I wrote a poem that had some of the similar ideas expressed, how food for the world is what you can find to eat. Being grateful for grasshoppers and raising dogs for meat. This is the world - we simply here try to ignroe it.

Winston

[Coyote Poetry]

Winston, in the USA. Dogs and cats are more protected than humans. The snow had showed up. 8 inches of fresh snow and more a-coming.

[Dave Brown]

too much truth in all this
that wild Texas rose was just made to help

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right Dave. We need kind people. Thank you for reading and the comment.