Please take my hand, please take my heart.

Please take my hand, please take my heart.

A Poem by Coyote Poetry
"

Just words.

"
                              Please take my hand, please take my heart.
Old man told the young soldier in the Fort Louis NCO club. You must die to learn to live. You must lose everything to appreciate the simple things. Once I held love so damn closely. I knew the smell and odor of love. When love is near and when you live and die inside the words and wishes of another. The sweat and tears of love make you pray for one more day and chance. He looked at the soldier. The young soldier drinking away the memory of his pretty wife left at home. He took the drink away for the soldier.
He told him. You are young and you have the right to be foolish. I recommend you add-up the good and the bad. You can be blessed with a woman who love you or drink the damn whiskey. Look at me. I decided the war, whiskey and the sin was worth more than a family, a home, a safe place to rest.
The soldier asked. I'm so damn angry and pissed-off. I saw too much s**t and I cannot think right. I will hurt her and I rather hurt myself first. The old soldiers wrapped his arms around the young soldier and he told him. Bad days and dead friends brought me here tonight. You and I. We will talk this out. The soldier allowed tears and fears to fall. Bartender brought the hot coffee to the table for four hours. The old Vietnam Vet bartender knew the face and the pain.
At 1 am. The old soldier watched the young soldier leave for home. He gave him his duty station and phone number. Call me if things are going bad. He told him. Tell her the truth. Cry together, hold on tighter and look at your wife face. Seek some kind of peace in her pretty face and her embrace. 
At 2 am. The Bartender sat with the old soldier and he asked him. Are you going to follow your own advice? I came home from Vietnam. Drugged-up, hateful and mean as hell. My Mississippi wife held me tighter. She fought to keep me sane. She made me face the things I had done. I remember her telling me daily. Please take my hand, please take my heart. Please don't leave me. Please Charley come back. Please Charley. Stay with me and we will fight together and defeat the demons. She saved me and I know I was blessed. Please my new friend. Find something beside the taverns and the drink. I have saw many old-timers drink themselves to death. A horrible death my friend. 
He walked across the street to the NCO academy. The bartender words burn his heart and mind. He was right. The teacher need to be the student. Need to find a sweet woman to take his hands to show him human contact and for his dead heart to rise-up again.
                              Johnnie/Coyote

© 2018 Coyote Poetry


Author's Note

Coyote Poetry
Just words

My Review

Would you like to review this Poem?
Login | Register




Featured Review

This is the most heart-wrenching & true-to-life story about the battle between booze & haunting memories. So many who struggle with substance abuse, or those who love someone in this struggle, will find everything familiar in your words. It seems like your story harkens back to an earlier time when people would sit for awhile & listen to each other's woes. Nowadays it seems like people are too lacking in attention span to spend time on stories that may ramble & not make much sense sometimes! *sigh!* Another excellent story told with your usual profound life lessons! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

6 Years Ago

Thank you Margie. I believe soldiers still try to help other soldiers. Take someone to know the pain.. read more



Reviews

This is the most heart-wrenching & true-to-life story about the battle between booze & haunting memories. So many who struggle with substance abuse, or those who love someone in this struggle, will find everything familiar in your words. It seems like your story harkens back to an earlier time when people would sit for awhile & listen to each other's woes. Nowadays it seems like people are too lacking in attention span to spend time on stories that may ramble & not make much sense sometimes! *sigh!* Another excellent story told with your usual profound life lessons! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

6 Years Ago

Thank you Margie. I believe soldiers still try to help other soldiers. Take someone to know the pain.. read more
Those are not just words, those are so beautiful words, and a lot of emotions which you expressed accurately, I really love it, great job, coyote :)))

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

6 Years Ago

Thank you Nora. I appreciate the comment. We need love near and someone to listen to us.
Nora

6 Years Ago

You're most welcome, keep writing and I will keep listening :)))
not just words. one soldier saves another not just on the battlefield. demons follow the soldier home and they must be exorcised by love. I have no other words, your story says it all.

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

6 Years Ago

Thank you Mary. War destroy the life and minds of many young soldiers. The sad way of our world.
Hard to adjust to civilian life and stay sane after the war. Some look for family to embrace, others in drink and many in a good, loving woman who can take the pain away. We must defeat those demons of the past. Kudos, sir...

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

6 Years Ago

Thank you Sami. I was always the old man. Rejoined in 1991 at 33 years old. The tavern lawyer and a .. read more
Sami Khalil

6 Years Ago

:).....................
Wow! very descriptive write and amazing imagery. Sounds like battle lines at home as well as in the military.

Posted 6 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

6 Years Ago

You are right. More battles lost at home than war. Thank you Alex for reading and the comment. I do .. read more

Share This
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Request Read Request
Add to Library My Library
Subscribe Subscribe


Stats

399 Views
5 Reviews
Rating
Shelved in 2 Libraries
Added on February 15, 2018
Last Updated on February 15, 2018

Author

Coyote Poetry
Coyote Poetry

MI



About
A Poet and writer who love to read and write. My pleasure is reading about the bad and good in a life. Also to honor the Poets/Writers of the past by reading their words. Remember .. more..

Writing

Related Writing

People who liked this story also liked..


Ra and Luna Ra and Luna

A Poem by bella


her orders her orders

A Poem by bella