Wisdom of a wasted life

Sometime is hard to see beyond our own life.

             Wisdom of a wasted life.

When we are born.
Even the poorest of people have opportunities.

Outcasts and poor folks seem to work harder.
They appreciate every small or large victory.
They grasp books and reach for knowledge.

I have always hated lazy people.
They beg and cry for having nothing.
Their hands always reaching out for money and handouts.

I have known people who lived off the life of other people.
One day no-one is left.
They can't function enough to buy themselves a meal.

Who is to blame?
I believe someone should of kick their a*s like my father did to me.
Told me make money and get a education.
Only respect for a Ojibwa/Mexican is education and money.

Today my mind isn't no good.
Body is beaten from raising too much hell.
I loss my memory from drinking.
The 120 shots I received in the Army took from my body and mind.
I don't blame no-one.

No-one forced the beer and wine down my throat.
I join the Army twice to wander off to War.
I could of learn from Hemingway and Mark Twain.
War is s**t.
No-one wins in the end.

World was never real pretty.
Then I saw  my baby girl being born.
I quit walking the edge and quit drinking.
I had a purpose to be alive.

I wasted 37 years looking for one reason to be alive.


Now today I know the world is simple.
Nothing good in a life comes easy.
Hard work make a man wise and at peace.
We need to appreciate every new day.

We need to be thankful for days with family.
Be thankful for the kind people in our life.
Be thankful for good health.

Give what we can to the poor and helpless.
Karma is a fair judge.
Love isn't forever.
Friendship is.

In the end.
We must look into the mirror.
We must like the person looking back.

In the end.
We need to think before we speak.
Nothing good to say. Say nothing.


  Coyote

Author's Note

I hear young people speak of death like it will bring peace. Life is a million mile journey. What may be around the next turn? Maybe a sweet dream ready to come alive or a good friend waiting.
Coyote

Reviews

[olla]

Some people grow up and others just grow old… my Mother always said every one grows up sooner or later.. it just takes some longer than others.. with my grandsons.. I tell them I want them to survive the experience.. you have survived the experience and gained wisdom.. I can’t feel that the time it took is wasted when the goal is achieved.. I still battle my inner child.. willful and stubborn little piece of baggage that she is..

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend. Each of us learn in our own time. I was lucky. Mexican/Ojibwa father made me mean and hard early. He lived when a Native American had no rights. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[William Michael Reeves]

That last line says it all. And it's interesting how something written long ago speaks of today. Means this poem is timeless. Autobiographical. And we just became friends and here you were writing friendship. Imagine that!

[Coyote Poetry]

Hello Bill. I am 64 years old and I have five grandchildren. I got lucky. Hard work and kind people led me to the right place. Thank you for reading and the comment. Please send read requests. I am kept busy, I still work, babysit grandchildren daily and I try to write.

[¿]

So glad to read an old poem of yours preserved with so much love, care and wisdom and lessons....Here I find a story of a Drop Out to Start Up!!
Always have learnt something from you till now...thanks for sharing this Coyote😊

[Coyote Poetry]

You are very kind Tahsin and thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Poetic License]

Oh, my wise friend, I hear my mother resounding in your words, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." I used to recite that with the classic eye-roll. Now, I see it as the most valuable piece of advice I ever received. Be grateful. Be honest. Be humble. Be graceful. These I add your words, be quiet.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend. Your mother was very wise.

[barleygirl]

WOW! WOW! And WOW! This is by far the most straightforward & powerful thing you've written that I've read so far! I can feel the passion you feel about this & your lessons are imparted with gentle wisdom borne of blunt honesty about your own life. I'm very amazed & thrilled to read an outpouring that's so heart-touching & real. This is what writing is all about. You give us all the courage to stand for something, to express our convictions instead of writing mealy wimpy whiney stuff. I totally understand why you are so passionate, wanting to shake those young people who look at suicide as a relief from the hard work of participating fully in living (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Margie. My father told me often. Education, education and more education. Never allow anyone to look down at you.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Yours are priceless words of wisdom-learned the hard way. "The 120 shots I received in the army took from my body and mind. I don't blame no one". We thank you for your service, Coyote. You own your life and your lessons. You are a brave and honorable man and a Master-Class poet and storyteller. We are privileged to be able to read your work. I applaud you.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Annette. Life is what we make it.

[Arjun Singh]

This poem couldn't' have be more concise
A simple 'get-up, get-going' with such accuracy isn't common. Sorry i was away from cafe for more than 2 years, and now i realize hoe much i must've missed..!

[Coyote Poetry]

Good to have you back and thank you for reading.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Coyote,
'Now today I know the world is simple. Nothing good in life comes simple. Hard work makes a man wise and at peace' These three lines tell just a little of your story but also the truth of the reality of living correctly. These words of yours are beautiful words to live by. Thank goodness we can learn something everyday..............Bless you Mr. Coyote! Kathy

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Kathy and you are right. Each day. New chance to do something worthwhile.

[Adam Adams]

captivating... for sure!
many things, thoughts, lines & esp. the choice of words be what kept me in flow. it helped me not to get diverted off your poetry, & certainly, i read it with much attention, & marked the outlay of your words you bled in. very deep & prolific. surely, it's one hell of a write that's being written with the depth of your heart -- the heart that experienced everything, but nothing did it find in the end expect emptiness.. that can only be refilled with the inner state of one's peace... gotten by happiness of being alive & contended. nice imagery here.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Adams. Life is a fair teacher. If you live long enough. You will learn. Find something to do fun and worthwhile daily.

[Frank]

Coyote, this is raw poetry, very honest, good work. Keep it up.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Frank for reading my older poems. I appreciate the comments.