Lestat's coffee shop.

A Story by Coyote Poetry

A Halloween tale. First new words in two months.

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

© 2025 Coyote Poetry

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

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Featured Review

RomaJ

Coyote, this story is enchanting and deeply moving. The line “Old men are like ancient trees” particularly resonated with me. I have always been drawn to trees. As a young girl, the old Banyan trees felt both beautiful and mysterious. Elders would tell us that our ancestors dwelled there and that we must treat the trees with respect or risk illness or a deep bruise.

Usually there was no real pain; it was simply a reminder from the ancestors that we had been disrespectful. If someone fell ill, a healer or parent would ask forgiveness from the tree.

This experience has stayed with me, and as an adult I am still deeply enchanted by trees and carry a profound respect for the old ones.

Your story brought these memories to mind. As a teen, I admit I would have fantasized about immortality, as vampires often do. Johnnie's reflection to Lilac -- "I did enough, we could find the sea, drink, and dance and sing to the moon, we could celebrate life till I am done" -- resonates deeply with me. Now, older and wiser, I would decline. There is nothing on earth more fulfilling than the peace of heaven. I would choose rest and tranquility rather than wander the world endlessly while watching loved ones pass away.

Johnnie and Lilac’s connection, and the gentle meditation on mortality, love, and art, captures this tension beautifully.

The story is both haunting and comforting, a reflection on companionship, the passage of time, and embracing life fully.

Truly a heart-stirring tale.

Posted 2 Months Ago

3 of 3 people found this review constructive.

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2 Months Ago

Thank you, dear Roma for the amazing review. In my lifetime. I met people of mystery. I loved to roa.. read more

2 Months Ago

Thank you, Coyote. It sounds like you’ve lived a beautifully rich and adventurous life, filled wit.. read more

2 Months Ago

We all grow old if we're lucky, Coyote. Meeting a girl like Lilac was just icing on the cake.

Reviews

Thomas W Case

Powerful work, my friend. Vivid and sharp.

Posted 1 Month Ago

1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

1 Month Ago

Thank you, Thomas. I appreciate the comment.

Julie McCarthy (juliesp..

John this is a truly Amazing write I loved it. Hope you are well !

Posted 2 Months Ago

1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

1 Month Ago

I am well dear Julie, and I hope you are doing well and having some fun. Thank you for reading and t.. read more

Betty Hermelee

Dear John...another great story....this one is so emotional (so are your others) in that you recognize old age and you see the aging go faster and faster.... until you meet Lilac, and the she convinces you that you are not too old for kinship, even for love....she has premonitions about coming to you....to take you to another level of passion, kindness, togetherness....and to admire the cosmos....
Warmly B

Posted 2 Months Ago

1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

2 Months Ago

Hello dear Betty. I appreciate the comment. I hope you are doing well. Winter coming.

2 Months Ago

Yes!!! bundle up John...especially in Michigan....
Warmly, B

Jansy

This story reads like a moonlit waltz between mortality and desire… love, death, and art sitting together over coffee, quietly deciding who gets the final word. There’s an old-world romance here, the kind that makes you believe eternity might just begin with a well-timed conversation.

So Lilac’s been searching for her Dark Poet for 30 years… I just turned 23. Ayo Coyote, any tips on where a young Dark Poet might find a mistress of the night like this? Do I wait 30 years or can I let fate take the scenic route and speed things up? Haha.

This is exactly the kind of story I dream of writing, though I usually get distracted and end up in alternate realities. Brilliant work, sir.

Posted 2 Months Ago

1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

2 Months Ago

Thank you dear Jansy for the wonderful comment. We must allow fate to direct us.

2 Months Ago

You’re right, Coyote, sir. Fate’s got a better sense of direction than most of us ever will. I�.. read more

Fabian G. Franklin

Being an old Anne Rice fan I had to come read an offering with such an intriguing title. Interview with a Vampire was okay and I watched the movie with Tom Cruise. I thought the movie was a flop and Tom Cruise was an awful choice to play Lestat. Her second book in the series, "The Vampire Lestat" was her best work in the vampire genre I think. I liked her tales of the Mayfair Witches even better, a perfect topic for discussion on Halloween! But your write here was interesting to read and tinged with sadness, resignment and acceptance. There's no such thing as being "too old" for anything, especially love. Asfor being "hard", "There is a crack in everything God has made." Ralph Waldo Emerson and Leonard Cohen added, "That's how the light gets in". Keep the light inside you burning, my friend. F.

Posted 2 Months Ago

1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

2 Months Ago

Thank you, my friend. I don't want to be an old vampire. I want to be handsome vampire. Fabian, I ap.. read more

ShadesofV

Love at the last possible moment. The Dark Poet and the vampire....a perfect, tragic pairing. I love that he chose peace over power. A truly beautiful and haunting story. Perfect for Halloween by the fireplace.

Posted 2 Months Ago

1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

2 Months Ago

Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

2 Months Ago

It was my pleasure to read. This is one of the best short stories I've read on here. Thank you.

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Added on October 30, 2025
Last Updated on October 30, 2025

Author

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..