Two out of three ain't bad.

Lonely are the people who wasted love and friendship.

Two out of three ain't bad.










I was sitting alone in a Austin tavern in 1996.
Drinking long Island ice teas.
Trying to get blinded.

A old man dressed poorly ordered a water.
Bartender gave him a bad look and walked away.
I told the bartender.

"Give the old man what he wants."

The old man smiled.

Told the bartender.

"Same as my new friend."

He drank the Long Island ice tea quickly.
I ordered him another.
He thanks me.
Asked me.  "Was I alright?"

I told him.
"Not too good.
But I will be fine."

He touched my back.
Told me.
"You got two out of three.
Better then most of us."

He looked outside to the cold rainy night.
Told me.
"All three are hard to hold on to.
You got the booze. Number one.
You still got the road. Number two.
You still got a lot of living left."

"The third one ain't so easy.
Love cost a lot."

I bought another round.
He raised the Long Island.
Make a cheer to life.
"To the road.
To better days.
To good booze and wine.
To sweet woman lost on the road."

He smiled and told me "I was successful once.
I had the big house.
The beautiful wife waiting for me."

"I choose the booze.
I loved the road too much.
Now I sitting with you.
Alone and wishing I held on tighter."


I looked into his sad eyes.
Asked him. "What was really important?"

He smiled.
Told me to order him a double shot of whiskey.
I ordered the whiskey.
He drank in down quickly.

He whispers "Hold on, tightly and be thankful.
If you find the sweet woman.
Who loved you.
Hold on.
Nothing as sad as a old man dying alone."

I left him.
Gave him a few dollars.
Thanks him for the advice.


I learn two out of three isn't so good.
Need someone to love and care for you.



Before it is too late.



              Coyote 


             3 July 1996   

Author's Note

A old poem.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Such an excellent conversation captured with a touch of melancholy & a bunch of friendliness! I love the way you take your time as you unfold the particulars of meeting someone in your poetic tales. I also used to do Long Island Teas to get blind. I love the 3 things you name . . . how drinking booze & being a rolling stone seem to prevent the third from being a lasting joy in one's life. So relatable! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear friend. I love your reviews.

[Dakota]

"I choose the booze.
I loved the road too much.
Now I sitting with you.
Alone and wishing I held on tighter."

I love this. We think our actions don't affect those we love and then turn around and they've all disappeared. Hard lessons learned and you have the nerve to put them in ink; one of the many things that makes your work so great!

[Dimples87]

I loved this. A story in a poem. Very meaningful and encouraging lesson.

[Zoe]

this tells a great moral to live by.

[Enigma]

Wow. That was a pleasure to read. nothing better than a story to bring out the real message in the writing. I liked it. :D

[Breezie Kae]

Is this a true story? It's very touching. Very honest.

[Drake Ryder]

An interesting poem my friend!

[portabello.pig]

Very powerful. I wish my father could have read this before he made the same decision.

[JENY]

It is a good theme….you have chosen….
But ..presentation is imperfect…I think…
I think …you wrote this in a hurry….
It needs editing….

[Linear]

Some things are worth listening to, but in the end we all have to choose!

enjoyed thank you

[KL]

As always, your words are like that of a native chieftain sharing his words of wisdom around the coals. Another poem to remember, but I've got to ask... do you not put effort into editing your writings before putting them up? Everything you have on Writerscafe has so much potential but is always infinitely marred with tense changes and pointless errors. This one isn't so bad but it seems from poem to poem you fluctuate. Just wondering. Other than that good writing.