The tarot cards

We can learn things in the strangest places on this planet.

                      The tarot cards

I went to an old dark carnival on a hidden road outside of Sarajevo.
I have been having a dream about a Gypsy woman. The dreams had brought me to the carnival tonight.

I didn't believe in heaven or hell. Old Army had contorted my mind and I lapse into a barbarian state. I was isolated and alone with being surrounded by a company of Soldiers.

I aspire a passage to peace and calm in the mist of hate and war. It was an Indian Summer. A warm evening I wandered into the dark carnival. Beautiful young women with dark eyes and flowing black hair seduced me with their smiles. The shapely young woman did not tempt me yet.

I was trying to find a remnant of my soul. The creed of the Army was eating away at my spirit. Kill or be killed.

I hear musical wind chimes calling me to follow the sound. I ended up at a beautiful decorated tent. Welcome was written in many languages. A beautiful Gypsy woman appears at the entrance of the tent. She bowed to me. Showing me a full and beautiful cleavage. She waved me into the tent.

She tells me welcome in perfect English. She tells me to sit down and rest. She ask would I desire some tea? She smiles and whispered. "We have a lot of time my stranger friend. Few have the desire to visit us tonight."

I agree to the tea. She brings the tea to me. Tells me. "This is a spiritual tea for friends only. It is pleasing to the mind and the soul. My homemade blend. Allow us to talk without fear. Allow me to probe your mind without the walls of a masquerade."

I told her I wanted one answer only. She slowly turns and moved her legs slowly. Allowing me to see her tan and strong legs. With a gentle smile she stands up  and goes behind me. Leaning her body into mine. I felt the heat of her warm body. She whispered into my ear. " You came here for many reasons. Death is near you today. You are dark with hate. My price to save your life will be cheap."

She sat down and spread the cards on the marble table. She tells me. "These card are very old. Rarely do they lie. The cards are the passages to things to be. Nothing is written in stone. We are creatures led by greed and the thrill of testing life. Destiny and the unknown can turn paradise into hell. Hell into paradise."

The first card was the Joker. She smiles and tells me. "The Joker looks at life without fear. He can laugh and smile in the heat of the battle."

The second card was the Traveler. She tells me. " The traveler loved the road more than love and family. Nothing will hold him down."

The third card was the Goddess of birth. She tells me. "Life will come out of you. Great things will come to you if you allow the heart to be re-born."

The fourth card was the Jackal. Her face showed sadness. She whispers "The Jackal  can mean many things. A man must control his anger and not allow hate to base his life on."

The fifth card showed the God of light. The Gypsy woman smiles and tells me. "Few have the gift of greatness. Some of us are born to live and die. Do nothing but suck the energy out of this beautiful planet. Your dreams are hidden today. I can feel the hope and desire to escape this place you are in today."

She takes my hand and whisper. "Your aura is black You need to meditate and forgive the sins of the past. A person filled with hate and pain is just waiting for death. He is forgotten and lost."

She brings my hand to her breast. She tells me. "My heart beats. Your heart is beating. Don't allow the bigots and liars to kill your dreams and goals. Many parasites will desire to take you down to their level. We are brethren and sister. I feel the gypsy soul in you. Few of us can see the world with open eyes. I see the Gypsy in your eyes and heart. Please stay free."

I take her hand.  I kiss it gently. I thank her for her time and lay a $100 on the marble table.

She stands up. Puts her arms around me. Kisses my lips and then my cheeks. Whispered into my ear. "Be like the wind. Don't allow the world to control you. You must control the world around you."

I leave the carnival. I reach into my pocket. The Gypsy woman slips a necklace with a white crystal.  I put the the necklace on.  I feel better already.

                            Coyote

Author's Note

Any errors. I would appreciate the help.

Reviews

[TamiViolet]

As I have said before, many of your works remind me of Hemingway, one of my favorites...

I enjoyed the story as there is much wisdom behind it, yet I'm very cynical at times, perhaps because life and experience have made me that way... I suspect the things that the beautiful gypsy woman told you were not the mark of revelation; moreover, her prophetic wisdom was something you knew all along, perhaps you simply needed to hear the words.... After all, look at the destruction you were witness to....

I may be way off on this one, Coyote, just my perception... I just know that whatever lessons we learn arise from answers already deep within us....

I must comment on the brilliant description and symbolism used, and although the atmosphere is realistic, you weave it remarkably... A truly enjoyable read...

[Ashley]

your discription of objects and people is very good. i think this skill needs to be shown in your discription of surroundings as a whole. the start of the story is quite confusing because of this. however the quality of the writing is very good.

[Liza]

i'm impressed with the details you remember from your reading; because for me these tend to be emotional times that i tend to forget
when you said the tarot reader told you your energy is black i paused because my alarms in my head went off...this is a ploy they all use to "cleanse" you...cleanse your wallet really....
we all have the ability to buy the same tarot cards and give ourselves the reading; we don't need them to cleanse us....
great write though!

[peaches]

good poem i really liked reading it . ur a very gudd author .

[Undying Glory]

superbly heartwarming work, and that's coming from me, someone who hates the whole idea of fortune-telling. this was really, really good, and i liked most of all your closing words from the Gypsy, those are really important life lessons we've all forgotten.
"Be like the wind. Don't allow the world to control you. You must control the world around you.""
epic words!!

[emmajoy]

Whenever I read one of your stories I leave knowing I've more insight than before.

In this you've taken me into the world of tarot, where cards depict laid-down interpretations but here, with that woman's insight, you're shown what you already know and fear. Humans often turn somewhere when they need a remedy, some to God, some to other human beings with insight and some to an alternative, such as the cards.

To your words however, you add the warmth of a beautiful woman who sees more than the cards display.. rightly or wrongly she understands the man inside and shows this with her physical embrace and the giving of the white crystal .. a sign, I believe, of light ..

As ever you've a way of laying words in front of your reviewer and allowing the eyes to read and the heart of feel.. this is beautiful, my friend.

[G. Marie"floating on an..]

Wow, I found myself intrigued with this story So many of lifes truths revealed in this short story and probably saved this fragile man's life to bring back light to his dark soul. coyote the grammatical mistakes are minor compared to the intense meaning of this writing. love this so much

[Star Wolf]

Wow, this is rather moving. We learn important things when we least expect to. Awesome and outstanding job. This was incredible all the way through.

[Ice QueenJen]

this was an amazing story Coyote, and there are a few but minor and they don't deter from your story.

[Kena Dawn Augustine]

Great story...are you going to continue it? I am also a novelist, not just write poetry. And I wrote this story called, "The Mystery of the Tarot," and it was just like the beginning of this story! It was about a young woman who gets her tarot read to her, which is actually by a ghost gypsy who is using her to get justice by the guy who killed her. So in actuality, this girl's tarot reading is a way to solve the crime, and also help her against the serial killer that is trying to kill her!! I liked yours, it was very descriptive. All your poetry is good.

[KL]

Enjoyed the change of pace in this piece, Coyote. Your storytelling methods in your poetry are unmatched on this site, and this was no exception as the writing flowed with poetic ease. Your tenses still need work, but this is something that you already know. I really enjoy reading your wisdom, and the end of this story made me feel better too.