She danced by the light of the candles’

She danced by the light of the candles.

I sat by the bay,
I watched the sun fall into the sea,
I was a street poet of the night,
I wore Army greens in the day.

I was waiting for a poetry reading at Pacific Grove coffee shop at 8 pm. Pacific Groves is the most beautiful city in my journeys. Built on a mountain overseeing the whole coastline of Monterey.You can see forever and you can watch the whales go by if you are lucky in early Spring and late Fall. Monterey is a city full of Poets and Musicians. We gathered 2 to 3 time a week to listen and read poetry. It give us the mojo to keep trying and reaching for dreams. The Musicians have their places. There have open mic that allowed them to play their music and try to attain their dreams.
I’m easy to find. I’m at the ocean writing and watching the sea. If I’m not there I’m at the Irish Pub. Drinking with the surfers. The surfers have adopted me. They tried to teach me how to surf. I had no balance and they felt sorry for me and gave me a suicide board. They were kind enough to accept me as a friend. I was to meet an Italian girl on vacation. Her name was Beatrice. My good friend for many years in the Army set me up with her. He asked me to entertain her. He knew I was lonely and wanted for me to go back to my old self. She was the sister of his wife. A beautiful 25 years old woman and she had traveled the world and was on a month of rest with her sister. She was too beautiful and educated for me. I wasn’t ready for any woman now. I was alone for too long and I didn’t need anything but my poetry and friends.
I was dating a woman in Michigan. Distance allowed the heart to mourn and forget. She came to California to tell me goodbye a few months back. I fell into my poetry and had a few fans. Most were young girls and old woman. I started three Poetry reading in the city of Monterey and Pacific Groves. I was called the Word man. I wore a blue jacket and knew most of the artist in the city. My real name wasn’t important.
I led the Poetry reading. A nice group of people showed up. Beatrice came in when I read my three poems. I saw an odd look in Beatrice eyes. After the coffee shop clear out. I sat with other Poets and Beatrice started to hold my hand. We took a walk on the empty beach of Monterey after the poetry reading.. It was 3 am in the morning and she asked me to hold her. She was cold. I wrapped my arms around her and we watched the sea.

I told her thank you for being with me, but I’m dead and my heart and will never return. She smiled and started to dance near the sea. Her long brown hair was flowing in the wind. She was like a child. She tossed off her shoes and run into the water. She was so beautiful. I looked to the moon and stars. Thank the lord of life and death for this moment. She ran back to me. She asked me. “What do you see Poet?” I told her. Perfection and beauty. We sat for hours in silence waiting for daylight to appear. She told me “I don’t want much. I can show you the way out of your prison. I can show you passion and pleasure.” She whispered. “What do you wish for?” I closed my eyes and she give me a warm sweet kiss.

We went to Big Sur the next morning. It is Saturday. All the Poets and Musicians show up at the River Inn to read poetry and sing their music. I pick her up early. She is wearing a short skirt and t-sheet. Her perfect body I could not take my eyes off her. Her tan skin and long legs were so beautiful to see. We drank and danced. We would go to Pfeifer Beach. A nudist beach. I been there often. The most beautiful rocks and dangerous water you will ever see. Beatrice lays in my lap. She asked me to read to her. I read some of my poetry to her.. She raised her face to my face and she kissed me and thank me for taking her everywhere.
We went to the River Inn cafe. I got us a room already. We would be able to stay till the end. Drink what we wanted and be safe. We listened to poets and musicians. She fell in love with Alisha Fineman like I did years ago. After too much wine and talk we go to the hotel room. She lite many candles and began to dance for me. Showed me her perfect legs and body with each perfect movement to the music of Kanas. “Dust in the wind.”
She waved goodbye and announced she was taking a shower. She left the bathroom door wide open and I watched her undress. Her young body shine in the lights of the candles. She smiled at me and went into the shower. I watched her wash her body. I wished for a woman like her for a long time. No fear of yesterday or tomorrow, willing to give emotion and love.
She peeked out and whispered ” Fool. Are you going to join me?”  I undressed and joined her. She rubbed her perfect body against me. I told her I have been alone time too long. My flesh is too hungry now. She told me. ” My lover, my sweet poet accept the gift. Taste the sweet tenderness of my flesh, be not afraid I will not break your heart.” She kissed my face, my neck and my lips. She whispered. “We are but dreamers and we will not always win.” She led me to the bed and she laid her body on top of mine. Her warm body against me make me feel alive and wild..
In the morning I took her back to Pfeifer beach. I watched her dance on the beach. Her beautiful body lays tightly against me. She asked. “Would I remember her?” I kissed her, drank some tequila and she drank some. I told her. “Only every time I watch the sun rise up from the west.

We talked all day and into the night. We had three more week together. We traveled the coastline and we swam in the big storms. She told me we will be okay. Just can’t allow the shit to pollute our minds. At the airport she gave me many kisses.
Whispered. “My Poet don’t cry no more. Life is to be lived.”
Now I can go back to Monterey. Go back to the sea and dream of my muse and lover Beatrice in sweet dreams.
Coyote
Oct 1992