The Gypsy dance

Life is to be celebrated. Love is to make feel alive. Pain teaches us we have lived.

                     The Gypsy dance

Late at night on the Monterey bay.
If you listen well.
Can hear the strong voices and song of the Gypsies.
They gather in the Winter to celebrate life and death at the sea.

They gather with food and wine.
Share secrets and enjoy time with friends.
The spirit of the sea welcome them.
They take nothing and share their joy and laughter
with the spirits who is content with the free souls.

I have been roaming alone for too long. 1992 was a bad year.
War, lost of lovers/family and too much time to think
had left me empty and not giving a s**t about nothing.
I come at night with my tequila and beer.

I was tire of the Army.
Making me a robot.
I wanted to yell and scream to the Gods for leaving me empty
of life and dreams.
I wanted to be free. I wanted the rope strangling my thoughts
and dragging me to hell to be released.

I didn't want the big house, the fancy car.
Just time to be to travel and roam the country.
Find my senses and to feel alive again.

The Gypsies were loud tonight. I was a distance from them.
Best to  keep a safe distance from people who wanted privacy.
 I wanted my quiet and the ocean to
create a peace for me.

I was awoke from my peace by a dark skin, long hair large man.
 He asked  "Why did I sit alone with the celebration of the
full moon." He laughed and told me. "Drinking alone leave a man with a bad attitude and no-one to tell his story to. You will come and join my party."

I try to say no. The dark eyes man  raised me up and brought me close. He whispered.
"No easy life for anyone. Need to party with the spirit of the moon and start tomorrow like a new born baby."

I take my tequila and beer to the small group.
12 people. Seven woman and five men.  They have a small fire.
A lot of food is placed on the ground. Mainly fruit and fresh vegetables. Wine and beer  in a cooler filled with ice .

The young Gypsy man introduce me. "This is my lonely friend. I found him with a full bottle of tequila and twelve English lagers. He had the gypsy spirit in drink and I invited him to join us."

The man introduce his friends and family. He told me. "We like to travel as a family. Protection in many. Never good to be alone in this world my nameless friend."

I told them my name was John. Each one got up and greeted me. The woman looked into my eyes. Like I was a new toy. The youngest of the woman Elena told the man who brought me here. "Jose, he need a class on life and laughter. He is dead. Where you from my Soldier friend?"

I told her from Michigan. "A lost Ojibwa/Mexican looking for a damn reason to be alive."

The young man name Marcus brought out a violin. He begin to play a lively tune. The girls begin to dance. Elena took my tequila and passed it around. I was given the bottle with one drink to kill the bottle off. I drank the last of the tequila and the girls pulled me into their dance.  I fell into the music and the beautiful woman dancing.

The men laughed and Jose started to sing.
" The moon is full and alive.
The world is silence.
Us Gypsies will dance and sing till the end.
No time for tears.
No times for goodbyes.
Time for laughter and love.
Life is long and need to be celebrated.
Death will come.
Better to laugh and dance till the end.
Thank you brother moon. Sister sun.
We are blessed with this night and our new friend."

I sat and talk with them till dawn.
They were kind and we did not discuss sadness.
Elena told me. " Can't live for yesterday. Today is what matters. Life isn't fair. But trick the rule makers and dance and sing. Be strong. Don't fall down to the liars and fool's.  Make them have concern for the free people who have dreams and want to love and be alive."

Jose gave me a hug and his address in San Diego. Told me. You are a Gypsy now. If you need a family. You have one now. The seven woman all gave me a kiss on the lips and I thank them for their kindness. I felt a happiness and a sadness when they left me on the Monterey beach.


 The sun was appearing from the east. I felt like today was going to be a good day.

                                Coyote
 







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Author's Note

A poem that was raw written in 1992. Added some more description and I hope you enjoy the story.

Reviews

[Sultry Sundance]

Coyote, I read deeply into your story, felt the joys, heard the laughter and music. Felt the free will of the Gypsee way and then was reminded of the blackness that clouds us when at the bottom of the line. This roller coaster ride we take, the climb is tough but worth the challenge.. going down happens to fast and too often. I felt so much for you reading this as if I had experienced this in my past. In 1992, I had just got out of the Air Force and began the harder part of my life. I am so glad you saw the new dawn in and felt it was a good day. The Gypsee's have it right, to wash away yesterday leaving bright new beginings for each new day. Stay well my friend. You have a calling and a purpose... you have reason to be here.

[Amber "Victoriomantic" ..]

This is so beautiful. It very nearly brought a tear to my eye. 1992 was the year I was born; this shows how young I am, I suppose. I'm glad there was a way for you to be lifted from your sad darkness. The Gypsies, like the Natives, have a very wise view on life. I shall add this to my favourites. I find it very uplifting.

[Stormy Weather]

A very well-written poem; drew me in from the start. Quite lovely.

[Scandalous]

I enjoyed this story, realloy gave you insight into the lives of soldiers. Great write!

~ Scandalous

[Scandalous]

I enjoyed this story, realloy gave you insight into the lives of soldiers. Great write!

~ Scandalous

[CHRIS ANDES]

it was the year I was born,..
regrets!!
...full of emotions that definitely brought color to the whole selection!!!

[DeevaMarx]

When I was younger I always wanted to be a gypsy. Then I grew up and the label was distorted and twisted into something else. This was the kind of Gypsy I wanted to be. Was this a real of fiction? Either way it paints a nice picture. I also agree this was more of a story then poem. Thank you for sharing it.

[Calypso]

I love the picture. Now that I've learned more about Gypsys I have more appreciation for them. As always your writings are like gold!

[Erica Daubert]

Coyote... your words just had me completely spell bound with this piece. Once again, you have me reminiscing of my own life on the road that I've long left behind and miss so dearly. I remember nights like that, traveling from place to place, the random assortment of djembes, bongos, tambourines and digery-doos. someone walking around burning sage, dancing around the fire with flowing skirts and waving scarves. The best part of it all, was the people we met along the way. It's funny that I can't remember the name of my 9th grade algebra teacher that i knew for a year of my life, but i can think of five people on the road that i'll never forget and whether it be their words, actions, kindness or aura - they impacted my life forever. The people you meet on the road are different from those in society. In society, people are selfish and out for themselves. On the road, it's just different... and without having experienced it, well there isn't really a way to fully describe it. It's a bond that we as travelers all just share with each other. like an instant connection of knowing something others don't. my favorite line was "Drinking alone leave a man with a bad attitude and no-one to tell his story to. You will come and join my party." It is very true and wise and I'm very appreciative of his invite because it meant years later I would get to read this beautiful story and experience his words passed on to me as well.

Thank you so much Coyote. This literally left me a little breathless at the end. I loved it.

[Sagar Waingankar]

Gracias! I loved reading every part of it! I would enjoy to be there some day!