Texas nights..


Texas nights.

I arrived in Austin, Texas at six pm. Happy hour till nine. The one handed bartender Ted asked me. Hello Johnnie, is it a Long Island ice tea night? I smiled and I told him. Yes my friend.
Ted is kind to me. He knows I drink to forget things, I cannot. He keeps the drink a-coming. I look at the mirror and I told the face looking back. Fuck you, fuck you Jennifer. Fuck you Army and fuck you John.
The mirror doesn’t answer back and I sense a person near. A pale skin Texas gal in the dress of the darkest black and the prettiest dark brown eyes. Wrapped her arms around me and she asked me.
Johnnie, Johnnie. You seeking death again. I told you once, I told you many times. The good die young and you are soiled with sin, you are soil with hate and you can see the real world. It is shit. You won’t die tonight.
I turned to her and I told her. Lilith, my beautiful Lilith. Where you been? I have been alone too long. I am liking being alone. I thought, you forgot me. I have been praying for your kiss, I have been praying for your voice.
She kissed my face, she kissed my lips. I kissed her neck and her ears. I told her. I miss the taste of your skin and the sweetness of your voice. Where have you been?
She smiled and she told me. You deployed for one year and I thought you have forgotten me. I loved your letters. I have every one in proper order and I am glad. You saved people in Africa, not killed them. I remember your last letter. You told me. I can’t write no-more. My heart is broken.
I brought her closer and I whispered. Dear Lilith. I saw the forgotten children, I saw the forgotten people and I bury thousand who die of starvation and I could do so little. Broke my heart.
Lilith stayed quiet and she told Ted. Two more Long Island ice tea, light on the coke. She looked into my eyes and she asked me. Did your unit save many? I told her, we did what we could.
She wrapped her arms around me and she whispered. Johnnie, Johnnie. You are just one man and the world is shit. I will take you home tonight. We will play some Hank Williams Jr. song and we will get naked and forget who we are. I love my soldier boy with the heart of kindness.
I told her. Beautiful Lilith. I don’t want to steal from you. You are too kind to me. Why my beautiful Texas gal? Do you spend time with a man swimming in shit. She smiled and she told him. All of us are swimming ins shit and sometimes. We need someone to show us where the wildflowers dance, we need someone to show us where the sea is alive. Once you saved me and tonight I will save you.
I brought her close and I told her. Thank you my Texas wild rose.
Dancing Coyote
Category : poetry
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