“Two out of three ain’t bad’
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.
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
I really liked this one and the other one about God. Very meaningful. Has power. Thank you for the opportunity to read both of them.
Yu/stan/kema
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Thank you for reading and the comment. I appreciate the comment.
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This was powerful, sentimental, and will cross my mind throughout the day. A fantastic piece of writing, johncoyote!
And thank you so much for stopping by!
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Thank you for reading. I enjoyed your site. Amazing artwork and words.
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Ah, thank you. The photography is from several years back when I had a camera. This is something I’m working on. Art is something I recently picked up after winning a 2-year magazine subscription, only to have my room filled with 3 boxes full of paper that needs to be used somehow. I hope to create more pieces soon. 🙂 And I look forward to reading your other works! These are quite good.
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Hard work to keep creating. Your three boxes of papers give you opportunity to keep active. I have 40 plus journals written in a 40 year span. I always have back-up to write. Good to have met you.
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Reblogged this on Weekly Writing Challenge and commented:
Absolutely; ‘Two out of three Ain’t bad’
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I learned this lesson a while back. After 35 years now clean and sober almost 13.
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Me too. Meet wife and she took all my money. I have been good for 20 years. Thank you for reading and the comment.
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