A new Halloween tale. Lestat’s coffee shop conversation.

Lestat’s coffee shop conversation.

Was a quiet San Diego night. I read my poetry at a poetry reading next to the Lestat’s coffee shop.

I read an old poem.

” Bitter branches

Old men are like ancient trees. Life will expand and multiply.
They will sit on old porches and remember skeletons and blunders.
They have learned profound knowledge and they know the texture of the body, get wore down.

Cruel nature never loses. Teaches us better to be humble than to live in a realm of
fake dreams and old victories. Wise men know. The past is lost, cannot be returned.
Resentment and old hate, will make a sorrowful ending.

Life is disorder and confusion. Stale memory must be lost and we must falter to new hope and dreams. Men who branches turn bitter and cold with time. Find the hallow heart and accept living in the asylum of the loneliness.

Grandpa told me. I want no negative words in my house, discard your anger at the door and sit with me. Please share a story with me. Life is a portrait of many things. No perfect life son, just lead with love and kindness. You can’t live holding hate, forgive and move on.

I sit by the river and I’m lagging behind my grandchildren. Old age and legs left me here.
Today I told my grandson like I was told by the old branches who held me up.
Don’t speak negative words, celebrate the good days and protect the family.

Thank you for listening.”

Many kind people told me. We love your words. Please return and read again. I left the poetry reading and I went to Lestat’s coffee shop. Was busy and many pretty and wild folks in the coffee shop. I ordered a double espresso. Before I could pay. A pretty gal with green eyes touched my face and she told me. I want to pay with a payment of a conversation dear poet. I adored her ginger hair and the sweetness/ temptation in her voice. She wore a black tight dress that show off. Strong and perfect body. I told her. I can pay dear lady, and I would enjoy a conversation with you.

She smiled and she told me. When a lady offered to pay for your coffee. Impolite to say no. I watched her pay the bill and she ordered nothing. Her skin was a beautiful whiteness of a twisted innocence. I knew she was a special woman. I could feel in my skin. She was fearless. We sat down near the windows, and she told me my name is Lilac. A permanent San Diego resident who loves the night and I love the sea. I have lived here forever, and I will stay till the last days. I told her my name is Johnnie. An old man seeking a quiet death near the sea. I am roaming highway one. Seeking the beauty of the sea and places to write my last story.

Her eyes became more interesting and she asked me. You are not afraid of death? No take-back and no more pleasure laying in a grave Johnnie. I told her. When the body demand death. Death will not accept the answer no. She asked me. Did death whisper to you these great secrets? I told her. He did 33 years ago in Santa Cruz. She laughed at my words and she told me. The man who played death is a jokester and he knew you have something left to do. Would you want to live forever Johnnie?

I told her. I am old and my body is weak. Forever in this body would not be sweet or kind. If I could return to my days of youth, if I could return to my days of being fearless. It would be very cool. Her beautiful green eyes studied me, and I knew she was reading my face, reading my thoughts. I told her. She was a forever beauty, and I asked her age? She told me. I feel like a thousand years old in my deepest thoughts and I am forever 22 years old. I have seen everything and more. Few things make me wonder and think. I have watched you read for two weeks, and you want nothing. You hold no hate, and you walk like a free man. No anger in your mind and I know you had saw terrible things. I know you have done great things. I met death also. He told me. He met the Dark Poet in 1992. He told me. This man sang songs with him. Took me 33 years to find you Dark Poet.

I laughed at her words and her face tighten-up. I told her. I am too old; I am too hard in mind and soul. Forever in my body. Not a sweet dream. She gave me a light smile and she whispered. I am lonely and I need a wise man who can play chess, sing songs to the stars and the moon. Make me smile and dance for the sea. I can give you good health and the energy of a young man. I told her. Pretty lady, I feel my death is near. Kind death is whispering to me. I did enough. If you desire dear Lilac. We can celebrate my ending like a Gypsy man. We could find the sea, drink, dance and sing to the moon. We could celebrate life till I am done. In your arms. I will know peace in those beautiful green eyes.

She looked sad for a moment and she told me. You have three years left. Cancer will take you and I will accept your offer. I am a night owl dear Johnnie. Could you stay with me till the end? I have home near the sea, and you could write all days, and we would find places of beauty, shared the great books and I will allow you to win a game of chess on occasion. I want to lay with you. Feel the world, you have seen. I will share my stories, and you could write an epic tale about a woman who had everything and had nothing.

I smiled and I told her. I am here with you in San Diego, and you are the best offer in 30 years. Would be my honor dear Lilac to be with you. She laughed and she took my hands. She kissed them both and she reached over and she gave me a warm and long kiss. She told me. A vampire kiss, being a vampire love is like being a poet’s love. It is forever written in the night sky. I knew you were coming to me. In dreams I saw your face dear Johnnie. I told her. You were in my dreams dear Lilac too.

Johnnie