March 18, 2021 10:07 pm
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 to a kind and sweet lady.”
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 and
he drank in down quickly.
He whispered “Hold on, tightly and be thankful.
If you find the sweet woman.
Who loved you.
Hold on, never let her go.
Nothing as sad as a old man dying alone.”
I left him.
Gave him a few dollars.
Thanks him for the advice.
I learned 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
Posted by johncoyote
Categories: poetry
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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By thereluctantpoet on March 19, 2021 at 3:18 pm
Thank you my friend.
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By johncoyote on March 19, 2021 at 4:49 pm
Always a pleasure to read and share your posts with followers, John!! Have a great day!
😊👍✨✨🎉
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By thereluctantpoet on March 19, 2021 at 9:35 pm
Excellent ❤🌹
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By d.a.simpsonwriter on March 19, 2021 at 11:36 am
Freedom is missed after we lose her. Thank you my friend for reading and the comment.
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By johncoyote on March 19, 2021 at 4:50 pm
So true…
You’re very welcome indeed dear friend
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By d.a.simpsonwriter on March 20, 2021 at 11:55 am
Hello my friend. I appreciate your friendship.
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By johncoyote on March 20, 2021 at 12:35 pm
Many blessings always
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By d.a.simpsonwriter on March 21, 2021 at 4:55 pm
Yeah “Sober” is now a verb. I made it so!
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By LAMarcom on March 19, 2021 at 2:56 am
I like that. A verb. Hello from cold and icy Michigan.
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By johncoyote on March 19, 2021 at 4:37 am
John, I’ll get back to this … soon as I sober… Meantime: https://texantales.com/2021/03/18/joni/
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By LAMarcom on March 19, 2021 at 2:51 am
I like this one; it works 🙂
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By johnlmalone on March 18, 2021 at 10:37 pm
Hello John. Takes a kick in the head for us to learn. We have enough. Thank you for reading and the comment.
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By johncoyote on March 18, 2021 at 10:39 pm
feel free to visit one of mine, John; would love to hear your thoughts on ‘The Thing in the Cage’ 🙂
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By johnlmalone on March 18, 2021 at 10:40 pm
I will read now John.
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By johncoyote on March 18, 2021 at 10:41 pm