We become, who we suppose to be.

We become, who we suppose to be.

A Chapter by Coyote Poetry
Chapter three.                   We become, who we suppose to be..

I was station at Fort Ord, California for one year now. It was late September 1992. I wasn’t seeking love, I was seeking adventure. I was lucky. I found three people seeking the same things. We were seeking the big storms, free-climbing every mountain near and dancing on the dangerous edges of living. I befriended many in the city of Monterey. I read three days week now, in Pacific Grove, Monterey and Santa Cruz book stores. I became the Dark Poet of the Irish Pub on the pier. It is amazing what you can find if you can see with real vision. There are gods, demons and spirits around us.

Me, my friend Padget, Beautiful Gail and Red. We called him Red because this is what he wanted. He was six foot four inches, large in body, red hair and he hated his name Robert. Padget was Baltimore born and he hated the Army. Gail was my dearest friend. Always willing to join me in my crazy adventures. We decided to go to Santa Cruz on the four day weekend. Red told us. We can do the acid on Thursday and it will be out of the body by Tuesday. I told him. This time, I will be the watcher. Keep your big ugly ass safe Red. He laughed at my words and he told me. I didn’t know you are my mama?  I told him, I was his mama.

We left at noon for Santa Cruz on Thursday. We bought a boatload of whiskey, tequila and rum. We brought our sleeping bags, just in case, we were too nuts, too drunk to drive back to Monterey. We could sleep on a beach somewhere. We arrived at the lively city of Santa Cruz at one pm and I found a safe parking space near the Santa Cruz boardwalk. We went to the Pacific and we watched the college kids having fun and raising hell. All of us carry the alcohol in a backpack. We drank and drank till dust was near. Two college girls joined us and they drank till they blind with craziness. The girl stripped to bra and panties and they danced with the sea. Gail and I joined them. Padget and Red joined the girls. The college girls name were Laura and Patti. They told us. We can find Adam. He is cool and his acid is safe. Me and Padget followed the girls into the city. We found a coffee shop and the girls ran to the man Adam. Adam was cool, he asked a few questions and he told us. Be careful with my acid. Pure and you will see everything. We paid him a hundred dollars and he gave us a small bag with small papers colored in red and blue. We thanks him and we wandered to the beach again. Laura and Patti were very happy  and we would stop at every street performer and they would dance and laugh. Padget told me. Johnnie, this is going to be a good night. Thank you for taking us here. You are the best.

The dust came and I opened the small bag. Adam told us. One hit will make you see better, three hits, you will see everything. I gave Red and Padget four hits. I gave Gail and the girls. Three hits and I took one. We were drinking less now and we watched the sea. I held Gail and she was singing softly. Red was running up and down the beach like a crazy man. Yelling death was coming for him. Padget was holding the two girls and they will kissing and enjoying the night. It was a wild and good night. Gail asked me. Is Red alright? I told her. Red being Red. Always acting loco.
Patti told me. Look at Red. He is running into the sea. I think I see a man in the sea? Can you see him Johnnie? I got-up, tossed-off my shoes and I took off my shirt. I tossed my wallet and keys to Gail. I told her. I will go gather Red. Red was 20 feet into the sea and I ran to him. I wrapped my arms around him and I told him. Please calm down Red. He looked scare and he told me. Death wants me and he pointed at a man in the distance. I never saw Red scared before. I dragged him to the beach and Gail and Padget took him to a safe distance. The girls helped and they tried to talk Red down.

I went back into the sea with a bottle of tequila and some cut lemons in a bag. I went to the man. He was about 50 feet into the sea. He was well-dressed, not wet and he gave me a great smile. He had a jolly face and was not old. When I got closer, I saw the blackest of eyes and he told me. Hello Dark Poet. You have the drink of the Gods. The tequila given to us by the desert plants. He wore a dress shirt and cargo shorts. I asked him. You know my name and I don’t know your name? I handed him the bottle of tequila and he took the bottle. He drank heavily and he smiled. He told me. My name is Simon and I am honored to meet  Dark Poet, friend of the Devil, Luna and Lilith. I saw on his back a banjo and I asked. Why are you in the sea? Do you play the banjo?  He drank more tequila and he told me. I am here for Red. Time for Red to walk with me tonight. I told him. Red is staying where he is. I am here and what do you want? Padget, Gail and the girls watched from the distance and they called to me. Johnnie, come to us. Red said the man is death.

I turned to him. Are you death Simon? He smiled and he told me. Luna told me, you were wonderful. You were a seer and a dream-walker. You write dead-man poetry. My favorite kind of poetry. Love never honored my life and I am always busy. We have talked before. Once you wanted death and I whispered to you. You ain’t done yet. I like you Johnnie, you have no fear inside your body and heart. Few brave men. Few men and women want to see the truth. You loved to dance on death edge. This is when we learn. We are more than we believe. He drank more tequila and I asked. Do you have other names, do you have other faces? He smiled and he whispered. You are very wise. Some call me the caretaker, the  angel of death and I like to be called the caretaker. I believe. I have great responsibility. People fear death, they shouldn’t. Death will come to us and if we lived a good life. Maybe, you won’t be hell-bound. I asked him. Am I hell-bounded?

He laughed and he told me. The Devil told me. You love to talk and you can see everything. Few dream writers Johnnie. Always have a notebook near your bed. Dreams seem to fade away if we don’t write them down. Will you write me a story Johnnie, make Simon a immortal? I want to become a immortal. No-one wants to be forgotten. I told him, I would write him a long story. He smiled and he asked me. What can I do for you? I am enjoying my time with you. I wish I knew you would make a appearance in Santa Cruz tonight. I would of wrote a song for you. I asked him to leave Red alone and sing me a Elvis love song. He danced upon the water and he smiled. He told me. I do love the Elvis songs. He begin to sing the song “Teddy bear”. His voice was beautiful. He caressed the banjo with skill and he sang the complete song. I clapped my hands and I told him. You are amazing Simon. He held the tequila tightly with his left hand and he took my right hand. He told me. Live  Johnnie, live for me. You will be saved often and you will save many. Remember Johnnie, a man who save one person knows happiness and a man who saved many. Can know peace. I must wander away and he turned and he wandered into the dancing Pacific with the bottle of tequila. I watched him disappear and I wondered. Did I lose my mind?

I went to the beach and Gail ran to me. She hugged me tightly and Padget hugged us both. The two girls held Red and he was okay now. We sat together, drank less, talked little and we try to understand the night.

I went back to Monterey on Friday and I told Lilith and Luna about Santa Cruz. They laughed at my words and they told me. Simon is so cool. He loved tomfoolery and your friend Red. Was lucky. Rarely does death give second chances. You got a song too. Luna held my hand and she whispered. In this life. Demons, Gods, Angels and Spirits among us. We never know who is near. Always better to be kind, drink more and dance with the sea as often as we can. The Devil is in Mexico City and we had decided. Me and Lilith. You will join us in the dance with the sea tonight. Maybe a great storm is a-coming? Are you brave enough to join us? I told her. Would be my honor dear ladies.

Coyote