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.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

The gypsy life sounds pretty good to me... as always your story carries great life lessons.

[joshua deathdealer]

This is spectacular. Your storytelling abilities are fine tuned. The atmosphere that you witnessed during 1992 was felt because of your well written words. I felt at home..Excellent work. Thanks for sharing...xx

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goe..]

Powerful message learned!

[Jaco (Jaik Miller)]

I was born in 1992. A very straight forward poem. Nothing cryptic. A storytelling poem. A very positive message that left me feeling good. Thanks for sharing this with me.

[sarah]

This is an amazing write it was really captivating and flowed flawlessly I really enjoyed this poem!! And thanks for the review!

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

I love the part about drinking alone.........wonderful Coyote!

[Kenneth The Poet]

Flawless almost. A stellar write from you, Coyote. You have the soul of the Gypsy wanderer going through you.

[InkSlinger]

The master story-teller at his best!! Always a delight to read!!

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

This story was amazing. I loved the journey of finding one's self. I've always felt a connection to work like this and especially Jimi Hendrix's music because of his gypsy themes....Mainly because my lineage is traced back to a mysterious man with no past...a hobo. I sometimes wish to set out and travel without having any idea what I'm looking for, but knowing I will understand when I find it. I guess he's still alive withing me.

Enough rambling though...This was superb work!

[Sarah]

good work.