Two Guitars..

I need the sea, I need a dark eyes Gypsy gal and some strong whiskey.

Two Guitars..

Was a warm May-day in Monterey and the sea was wild tonight.

Once loud man, now quiet man drank his whiskey alone and he prayed for nothing more,

nothing less.

Once he was the laughing man, the smiling man.

He drank the whiskey from the  bottle and he told the stars.

My last friend, the soldier whiskey, the Black Velvet.

He laughed at his-self and he watched the beautiful Pacific dance for him.

He heard laughter and he saw a group of people.

Five dark hair women and three large dark skin men.

They were laughing and talking loud.

They brought food and a lot of drink to the sea.

They wandered pass me and one of the men saw me sitting alone.

He came to me. He asked me. Hey Soldier, the moon is a half moon, the liars moon.

No-one should drink alone with the liar's moon above. Join us and we can drink, eat and dance.

I told him, I was fine and he took my hands and he told me.

It is a Gypsy night my new friend and I followed him to the group gathered together near the sea.

He told his name was Roberto and he shook my hand and I told him, my name is Johnnie.

He told me, we live in-land and we come to the sea to play music and to dance.

The sea allowed us sing loud and dance with her.

He introduced me to the ladies. Elena, my Gypsy wife and Susana, my baby sister. The pretty one in the colorful

dress is Sarah and sitting by the food is Maria. The loco Gypsy girl dancing with the sea. She is our dancing beauty name

Catherine. The man drinking the beer is Charley and Peter is going to Catherine to dance. I told them. A pleasure to meet you and I opened my back-pack. I handed to Susana, two bottles of tequila and I handed two bottle of Black velvet to Roberto.

He laughed at me and he told Sarah. A man of your dreams. Drink alone the whiskey and the tequila in bounty. He could

be of Gypsy blood? I told him, I was Michigan born and Ojibwa/Mexican. Catherine and Sarah came to me. Sarah touched

my face and she stared into my eyes. She took my right hand and she read my palm. Sarah told Catherine. This man

was a bad one. Now he seek death and he won't find death. Only the good die young Johnnie. Tonight we make you

a brother. Good drink, good food, the sea and dancing. You will learn to tell death. F**k you, not tonight.

We drank the tequila first, passing the bottle till it was empty and then Charley/Peter found their guitars. Beautiful dancing Catherine told Peter. Tonight is a good night. Johnnie, what song, do you need? I told her. Two guitars. She smiled and she came to me. Kissed my face-cheeks. She whispered to me. I knew you were of Gypsy blood.

Charley/Peter begin to play the song and everyone started to laugh and to move. Elena danced with Roberto and Sarah came to me. Johnnie, it is the midnight hours and remember, never waste a moment. Death is always waiting for us to give up.

Tonight I teach you to love. We will dance for the moon, we will try to touch the stars and I will make you laugh.

I got up and we danced to the amazing song. Charley/Peter played many song for us. We were joined by Maria, Susana and Catherine. I went and I got the whiskey. I gave one bottle to Charley/Peter and we passed the Black Velvet as we danced.

We finished the whiskey and after the dancing, was done. We sat together near the sea. Eating fruit and bread. Roberto

told me. Every half-moon, every liar's moon. We come to the sea. I hope to see you again. I hope you are feeling better.

Never good to be alone and here is my address and my phone number, if you need something. Sarah and Catherine had adopted you. You were Gypsy born and now you have a family. I told him, thank you.

I walked to their truck and the five women lined up. Each one, gave me a soft kiss and Sarah whispered. Celebrate life

and be fearless. Dead men, die alone. Hell-bound life need laughter, dance and song. Don't listen to the naysayers. Roberto and Peter/Charley took my hands and they told me. Thank you for the whiskey and the tequila. And we like the rum too.

I laughed and I thank them. I watched them drive away and I told the morning sun. Thank you for the good night and the lesson. We can't die. We must tell death to f**k-off.

Dancing Coyote

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[emmajoy]

What fine and inspiring writing, John. The many people you've met in your life surely made part made you the man you are,: awise grandfather now with a free spirit! Your gypsy friends, brothers of heart, spirit, music and moon, affection and space were the friends we should pray for They shared without asking for reward or the trappings of gratitude. How wonderfully they saw their world and all it contained - freedom, the feeling of never being alone- and, shared it with you too. Friendship isn't about popularity or ambition, wanting to be top dog or otherwise but - just being.. spirit with a heart sans cynicism or intolerance. How wonderfully blessed you were.
PS Your video is oh so right!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Emma. We need many Gypsies night. Keep us young my dear friend.

[Perdition]

Lost a tooth into this one..maybe two. Taking on the juices of singing into the sea and hearing the gypsy screams of death calling. Just walking out into the chance stirs the soul enough to gather up more life and yes..that f**k off to death is well worth it when you are watching those falling all around you. Helps to take at least two guitars as well, into a golden night where strangers understand you more than friends...perhaps an owl or few to let fly loose into a liar's moon. Loved it!

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree. We need two guitars and some Irish whiskey. Thank you my friend for reading and the comment.

[Perdition]

My pleasure Coyote. I do have the guitars, I'll leave the whiskey to you..lol.

[W. Barrett Munn]

One of the strongest pieces of your I've yet read, Johnnie. A very stirring portrait of the effects of too much war on too good of boys.

Winston

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Winston. You learn nothing worthwhile from war.

[Lisasview]

I love chance meetings... I believe if we are open and engaging we can experience so much more than we can even imagine..
I basically say hi to everyone... and, often am surprised by what happens.
Good stories are always enjoyable to read!!
Lisa

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Lisa. In my lifetime. The Gypsies, I met. Were very kind to me.

[Lisasview]

Now how wonderful is that!!
Lisa

[Fabian G. Franklin]

The defiance at the end. That's the part that defines the living; our unwillingness to "go quietly into that good night" as Dylan Thomas described it. I enjoyed the read, my friend. Thank you for the journey and the wonderful poetry. I enjoyed. F.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Fabian and I agree. We must go west and escape the kiss of death.

[AYVID N]

Dear Coyote,

A chance meeting led to so much joy and good feelings shared. Sometimes, we are alone and some people happen to pass by and change the entire day. Their touch is fleeting but the impression is lasting. Their message was so truly amazing! Death hits lonely people more often. It prays on lone targets. Death is scared of those with strong human bonds. Love is a good way of saying f**k you to death.

I enjoyed your words and appreciated them a lot.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree dear Divya. We need reasons to be alive and thank you dear friend for reading and the comment.

[AYVID N]

Always so good to read your poetry. You're most welcome, dear Coyote.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Death is scared of brave men. Nice thoughts. I enjoyed.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend. Brave men know how to dodge death. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, we must..."do not go gentle" as was written by a Dylan.
Love the story....felt the sea's night breath.
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Jacob for reading and the comment. I need a year near the sea.