Beautiful Maria. Showed me the way to the Fray.

A dream, a poem was born. I hope you enjoy.

• The fray..

• 1- Martha jumped into the fray.

• 2- Sometimes the material on lawn furniture can fray, making it feel rough to the touch. 

• 3- Going out into the fray is one thing, but going unprepared is another.

• 4- On the eve of the fray Papineau sought safety in flight, followed by the leading spirits of the movement.

  
  

  
  

• 5- The answer is not to urge the most powerful ruling classes, with the most destructive weaponry, to join the fray.

• Part one- Beautiful Maria, beautiful Maria. Showed me the way to the Fray.

• 
  

  ( Will-o'-the-Wisp

  The will-o'-the-wisp is a flame-like phosphorescence caused by gases from decaying plants in marshy areas. In olden days, it was personified as "Will with the wisp," a sprite who carried a fleeting "wisp" of light. Foolish travelers were said to try to follow the light and were then led astray into the marsh.)

• (Maybe a dream, a good dream.)

• Once, I knew Will-o'-the wisp. I sought happiness, I sought perfect life. I ran thoughtless into wars and I believe my world could be saved. I did find the clouds and I danced with a pretty girl in the softness of a  cloud on the top of a large mountain in Honduras. I thought I could be the kind voice in the noisy world of hate. Today I sat alone at Port Austin. The Lake Huron is near and the whiskey is tasting so good tonight. I asked the Goddess of the sea, can the wisp of one, be meaningful?

A woman, too pretty to be near me. She took my hands and she told me. Johnnie, Johnnie. You must find the Fray. Your organized life is killing you and your dead dreams are a grave now. You were wistful and now you see nothing, you know nothing.

I looked hard at her beautiful face. Came a memory. A kind woman saved me once in Texas on a stormy night. I asked her. Are you dear beautiful Maria. Where have you been?  She kissed my face, she kissed my hands. She told me, yes Johnnie, I am Maria and she asked me. Where did you go Dark Poet? Where did the man who loved the Fray go? Once you could see everything and tonight you are overtaken with the blindness of foolish needs. Let's go to the Lake Huron? Burn some sage and pray to the Goddess of the sea, we can find the Fray.

I told her. The Fray is for the brave, the Fray is for the crazy. I have fell into the wisp of nothingness. I cannot be saved dear Maria.

She took my hand we walked to the Lake Huron. She asked him. Remember in a dream, you told me of the story where the Lake Huron and Lake Superior meets. This was where once where two lovers found each other and now the Lake Huron and Lake Superior. Does a dance of forever. A wild and dangerous dance. The lovers found the Fray.

He told her yes and they stood near the wild September story waves and he asked her. Beautiful Maria, my dancing Maria. I cannot find the Fray no-more. She took his hands and she whispered. Listen to the Lake Huron, the Big Lake is kind to us. Ancient people are singing to us. She kissed my face, she kissed my lips and she kissed my neck. She whispered. The people of the Fray have not forgotten you. We danced with the moon and the stars  above us. She whispered a poem to me.

"The wisp of a kiss we shall need,

a wisp of a chance we shall want.

But the Fray is where everything is forever.

In the Fray, we can become kings and queens,

fighting to save the world of confusion.

We can fall in the chaos and laugh at fear.

You can stop seeking or seek more?"

The Fray is calling you Johnnie and I came to you tonight to teach you. Johnnie. You are not done.

He looked into her eyes of a million stars and he asked her. Why now? She told him. Johnnie, my Johnnie. A million years ago in a dream. You save me and you showed me the Pacific.

You made me laugh and we danced the whole night by the sea.

I was seeking death and you taught me to seek life. You taught me to love the Fray and I will make you love the Fray again.

My head fell into her breasts and her arms held me tightly.

I raised my face up and I told her. With you near and the kind Lake Huron. I need the Fray. Thank you for stopping by in my dreams dear Maria. Maybe one day. The Fray will allow us to find the great sea and we can dance for her?

She smiled and she whispered. I am always with you. Please Johnnie, seek the Fray before you forget her.

I awoke alone and I reached for a ghost. I got up, packed what I needed and I went to the train station. I bought a ticket to Monterey. I told the new day. The fray, I am here seeking chaos and life again.

Dancing Coyote

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Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Rich imagery in every line of this! Life is intense....and filled with events that we wish we never had to experience. The trick is to cherish the good times. Dwelling on the evil we have seen makes life ugly. Tomorrow is another day...a day you can make sure brings good things to you. Lydi**

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment dear Lydia. The Fray is a good place. We take chances and we dance with the sea.

[Soren]

Where prose meets verse. Your stories/poems are archetypal and the existential search is in us all. What is the meaning of life? We all ask it at some point or another. Nicely done my friend.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree Soren. We must seek a good ending and thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[FGFRANKLIN]

Life in the chaotic. Life has always been chaotic to me. I never know what to expect one day to the next. So I ceased having expectations and learned to follow the flow. It's so much easier than trying to swim against the tide. To me "the fray" is a Colorado rock band. I've had enough excitement to last five lifetimes and not all of it was fun. Sometimes we are forced into the hub of it and other times it seems we swim around and around it like stars circling an immense black hole. The event horizon is just up ahead. Will any of us escape? I enjoyed the read. F.

[Coyote Poetry]

We can try Fabian. Maybe only in our dreams. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Chris Shaw]

The fray is a period of intense activity. That is what life is about. The poem is a dream and with it comes a warning to leave the sadness behind and to start living again. A new day, a new train journey. A new beginning. Hello Coyote my friend.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree dear Chris and thank you for reading and the comment my friend.

[Stella Armour]

Ho my, John
i love this, and yes Will-0- the wisp is folklore from where i live.
John .... you really must publish your work, i don't know of any other poet that writes in the way you do ... so full of wonderful imagery .

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Stella. I must try to get published and thank you for reading and the kind words.

[Stella Armour]

John, it would be wonderful for your much loved grandchildren to have the legacy of your work in a book .... do it for them :)

[Coyote Poetry]

I will try dear friend. I am more Salinger than Jack London.

[Stella Armour]

well i much prefer Salinger :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too. Jack London was the honest writer. He wrote only to make money. To live the good life.

[Stella Armour]

He did indeed ..

[red93]

I concur totally with Neville Coyote, as I have said on yr Pages many times before - your Work is crying out for Book/EBook Publication. The Lord said 'Hide not your Light under a bushel' and you are definitely at the level now where the World beyond Writers Cafe needs to see and marvel at your Works ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my kind friend. I must seek the light and I learn to love the darkness, the quiet.

[Neville]

If you have not already found a publisher brother Coyote .. go find one now & that's a very polite order .. Neville

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Neville. I will become brave. Seek publishing. I appreciate the generous words.