Tender loving care

Real love is given without the desire of reward.

                                     Tender loving care

She had big blue eyes. She sat on my lap at the college party in Marquette, Michigan. She told me. "Johnnie, you need tender loving care. You are drunk most of the time. Not sleeping and working yourself to death. Somebody must stop you from running for near death."

I kissed the blue eyes girl and squeeze her tightly and told her. "Ain't no reason to save up time. Time is plentiful  for the man running to a dead-end. Some people want to live forever and some of us are trying to use up life. No guarantee tomorrow will come."

She gave me a look of sadness an disappointment. She brought my face close. Her beautiful blue eyes looked at me like a science experience. She told me. "Ain't no reason to kill yourself with the booze. Woman will come and go. Wars will be forgotten and one day you want to live forever. The foolishness of youth. Old age is a bad thing. One day you will laugh at the foolishness and action of youth."

I told her. "You are so beautiful. Auburn hair and big blue eyes. You have my two favorite part of a woman. You make me wish to swim forever in those kind and tender blue eyes.  To caress your auburn hair and like a siren,  ready to steal a man soul."

Pretty young woman laughed. She asked me. "Do I look like a sea demon? Ready to steal your heart and leave you for dead? Love can be minutes, can be hours. If we are lucky. Maybe a month or year? Johnnie, there is no guarantees except tonight. A foolish woman want to give you T.L.C.  Tender loving care is needed for the all of us. We need someone to treat us like we are loved and cared for. Even in a lie."

I saw the seriousness of her statements in her eyes. I knew when a woman decided what she wanted. Hard to stop the cold wind and a determine woman. I smiled and said okay. She took my Black Velvet whiskey away and took my hand. We left the party holding hands like old lovers.

She took me to the Lake Superior and we sat watching the dancing lake. She held me and she sang songs of love to me. I asked her. "Why mess with a useless man?" She kissed me once. She kissed me twice and whispered. "Your heart is good. Just need some light and hope to feel the warmth of dreams and possibilities. My poet friend. Tonight we wait for the sun. You can buy me breakfast and I hope I show you. Better to love than to play dead."

         Written in 1986/rewritten in 2014

Author's Note

Old poetry with a rewrite.

Reviews

[Deuces]

"Better to love than to play dead." Amen! What a way to close this one. You're quite the storyteller. That woman had quite a bit of wisdom and should be heard by all us men. Such a true and profound statement in "We need someone to treat us like we are loved and cared for. Even in a lie." I think that holds so much truth in all of us. Sometimes we as humans just need to hear certain things to feel OK about ourselves, if only for the moment. Epic piece. Thanks for this.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you again. Old memories become gold with time. If we had known to held on tighter to those sweet and kind woman.

[Deuces]

Agreed, Sir!

[Lydia Shutter]

Your stories are riveting, John....I so enjoy reading about the exploits in your life. I could almost hear her singing those songs of love to you. We all need to "feel the warmth of dreams and possibilities", don't we? It is wonderful that you remember people who crossed paths with you so vividly and that you can tell us such charming stories. Lydi**

[Coyote Poetry]

I have been lucky. I open up 27 Little Caesars and Domino's in my youth. I met many good people in my travels. Thank you Lydia for reading and the comment.

[Benita-Staebell M - Kin..]

such a beautiful Love story made
me cry and made me smile. I loved these lines. BRAVO blessings



She took me to the Lake Superior and we sat watching the dancing lake. She held me and she sang songs of love to me. I asked her. "Why mess with a useless man?" She kissed me once. She kissed me twice and whispered. "Your heart is good. Just need some light and hope to feel the warmth of dreams and possibilities. My poet friend. Tonight we wait for the sun. You can buy me breakfast and I hope I show you. Better to love than to play dead."

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Poet. Good days and good friends are never forgotten.

[Benita-Staebell M - KindredPoet]

you're very welcome Blessings

[RichGee]

This is beautiful...
Tender loving care is a necessity in life if we are to live a full one.
Even animals act differently when they are showed TLC...
Great work my friend. I am so happy that I have come across your art.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Rich. I have been trying to improve and create for over 40 years now. I hope I'm improving?

[RichGee]

This is perfect!

[Dhaye]

"Tender loving care is needed for the all of us. We need someone to treat us like we are loved and cared for."

This piece reminds me of an old familiar story...Very relevant!
Thanks for sharing this.

[Coyote Poetry]

A older piece. Before I joined the Army the second time. I lived in Upper Michigan. Just added some Dryden and London to give the story more life. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Rhonda]

This is amazing writing. Keep up the good work :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Rhonda. Thank you for the positive comment.

[MsJewel]

You have touched my heart with this beautiful love story. Gorgeous writing my friend

:) Julie

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Julie for reading and the comment. The old poetry is good to bring out when the mind is tired.

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goe..]

I enjoyed reading this piece! It seems like it was pulled out of a romantic, heartwarming little book in a bookstore. Such unconditional love must be one of the greatest treasures to own, a very real rarity in all of our lives.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. I tell people. All of us have stories to be written. Just need to dig them out.

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goes Cascading!)]

my pleasure xx