The Monologue of Jabari

The Monologue of Jabari

(A lone voice whispers)

Time has defeated me

My Amelie

As Death has cheated me

The love you once gave me to sip 

Weekly 

As expensive tea

Now no longer completes me

For everywhere I go 

I see purple graffiti

For my eyes only 

Written with sharp strokes of Swahili

Njoo kwangu

Njoo kwangu

They read

Serenely

Njoo kwangu

Njoo kwangu

It may seem too late

But maybe we'll be given

An act two

So my spirit guides 

Can thank you

For a man 

Who has walked

The sorrowful path of Matthew 

Looking for statue

To worship 

I once found you

In a place 

I dream I could go

Back to

But

Time has defeated me

My Amelie

As Death has cheated me

The love you once gave me to sip 

Weekly 

As expensive tea

Now no longer completes me

For everywhere I go 

I see purple graffiti

For my eyes only 

Written with sharp strokes of Swahili

Njoo kwangu

Njoo kwangu

They read

Serenely

Njoo kwangu

Njoo kwangu

Come to me

Come to me

Njoo kwangu

Come to me

(C)

Copyright John Duffy

Njoo kwangu translated:

Come to me 

Image shared under fair usage policy via Google.

Is this why people cheat?

 An intriguing question arose in-between emailing beat makers and singers, as I caught snippets of television.

Can two cheaters ever be truly happy?

Can you ever trust a cheater?

Do two people, who meet, probably at work, (statistically) and have an affair.

Have a lasting trusting relationship?

Or is the fling just a brief dopamine hit to fill a void?

Why don't people just be open and part ways, gracefully?

But oh, the human condition.

The Devils in the details.

If you've ever been cheated on, apologies for the piece. 

It's not intended to trigger old emotions. It's just a reflection of some aspects of humanity.

And on the other hand, does it relate to those tempted by the reverse of loyalty?

Salute.

A theme portrayed endlessly in soaps, drama's, film but more realistically, life. 

Title:

The Affair

(A lone voice reflects in introspection)

We always meet 

Like later tonight

Under the moonlights 

Priceless

Silvery rays

I know we'll slow dance

To Al Green

Like entwined 

Consummated eternal lovers

Forever engaged 

And married insidiously 

By Father Darkness

Through our wicked 

Salacious old ways 

The thoughts of the world 

And all outward consequences

Guilt

Fear

And causing hurt

Simply burn on our 

Old relationships 

Funeral pyres

And just float away 

Like wind blown dirt

Carried aloft by the 

Cold now dystopian 

Midnight air

This crazy relationship 

Which we started as a 

Facebook and Twitter

Conversation 

Is now such a thrilling 

Exhilarating irreducible dare

And is now my every 

Breathing prayer

I know this may last or may break

And it may end in a heartbeat 

As we share a slice 

of the Devil's

Delicious seductive cake

But deep down I know you were always 

Worth the risks

The lies and long waits

For your three whispered words now just bind 

And sing for me 

Whenever my blue eyes close

Three words within eight letters

I just love to hear

I love you

It just keeps me starstruck 

Like a Hollywood big actor 

Lost on your big screen 

Projector

So regardless of our sin and our unspoken marriage 

As we ceremoniously

Slide through dark shadows 

Like unseen lepers 

I pray we win

And buy that dream

Together

For I know 

We're just two

Of the world's many

Unknown sinners

Swimming valiantly 

In one of life's

Many deep rivers

Trying to hold tightly 

To each other 

As we 

Sometimes struggle 

To breathe

Trying to be

Together forever 

Whatever this judgmental

World 

Believes or conceives

Married together

Insidiously 

Through our wicked ways 

As we weave gaslighting

Machiavellian plans 

To always deceive 

But a silent unspoken question 

Always remains

In the dark recesses of my mind 

Like today

Before I meet you

And tell the wife

I'm working late

On a new project 

Helping Sebastien

With a straight face 

For as soon my pupils

Dilate 

I always wonder

Will one of us 

Get bored

And cheat 

Again

Copyright John Duffy 

The Owned Man

 

A poem for all those men whose beguiling beauties, rule their tightly controlled lives.

A recent film inspired the piece but maybe it's more closer to the divine truth of their existence. 

The film was The Graduate.

Such a classic.

Perhaps I should have titled it, Mrs. Robinson 🎩

Salute.

Title:

The Owned Man

(A lone voice whispers)

As she 

My sweet-sounding 

Goddess 

Who daily and especially at night

Who wantonly 

Without shame of fear 

Of retribution

Consumes my every 

Breathing vista's

With a sweet sounding 

Sensuously rapturous 

Soft 

Liquid like melody

Always proclaiming. 

It's you I just need

In light whispers 

Whilst

Forever caressing me

As her delicately toned red 

Fingers

Conduct a deliciously tender but firm 

Melodious 

Symphony 

With my quivering 

Sweat soaked skin

As her beloved treasured 

Lyrics sheet

Her dulcet tones 

Sometimes dominant 

But

Yet hypnotically 

Honeyed smooth and 

Lyrically euphonious

Always hold me in 

A subtle but forceful trance 

Of her own cunning doing

At the same time.

Some think I'm 

Blessed to lay and 

Walk beside such a 

Striking beauty

Gian Lorenzo Bernini 

Would have been proud 

To sculpt

But I'm 

Simply forever 

Dammed

For

Her low easily seductive 

Mellifluous voice

Always sends me

Tumbling

Forever fumbling 

Down a deep tunnel

Created and made 

For Loves deluded 

Lost souls to 

Wallow in

Until 

Oblivion 

And we hold our arms wide open and admit in front of the Almighty

We just loved living in

Sin.

Copyright John Duffy 

Image shared under fair usage policy.

Be Courageous

Have a wonderful weekend all!

I rather enjoy inspiring others.

Isn't that why we were all born?

Title:

Be Courageous 

(A lone voice whispers)

Within time

Whispered Mister Emotions

You will need me more

As you slowly turn 

Father's Times

Ancient books 

Full of loose pages

Your memories 

May slowly start to fade

As dark shades cloud your

Mortality

As you 

Year by year 

Unfortunately age

But I will stay loyal

And within

A scent

Old treasured letters

Or just pictures

I am reborn

For 

I am the trigger 

In your sleeping gun

The golden bullets

To revive your mind

Although 

The world around you

May slowly 

Turn dark

Although you 

May be

Lonesome 

Happy

Godless

Faithful 

Meek

Or truly just

Strong

I am but one of the many 

Silent gatekeepers

Who protect your life's works

And many songs

Its tales of romance

Happiness and love

All of your majestic empires

Just lying silently

Within dark keeps

So look in the mirrors and see

If you can feel me

See that beautiful reflection 

In those mesmerizing sparkling

Bright eyes

That's me

So

Wear courage like a second

Skin wherever you go

The masses might whisper

Collude 

Remark and say

It cannot be done

Put those dreams down and

Go hide them away

Look at him or her

They're losing their

Touch

Multitudes may proclaim

With glee 

As you endure

Spells of failure

Quick to mention 

It's beyond your reach 

Or regalia

But you my reader 

Are a creation of such beauty

Those dreams embody

The strength and power 

Of your souls own duty

So rise up

In front

Of their precious scrutiny

Show them the harmonious

Collaboration of inner faith

And belief

Step above their glorious lies

And continue to rise

It's how you'll escape

and succeed

In front of their 

Jealous

Green eyes

Copyright John Duffy 

 

Lost Love Reborn

Does emotional poetry

whistle a song your emotions slow dance to?

My Saturday post.

Salute.

Title:

Lost Love Reborn

(A lone voice whispers)

I can only hope you answer so eloquently

as I patiently wait

With bated breath

For answers to my deep-seated questions

Once asked in my dark shaded sleep

For your old messages and beloved memories

are still in my old seahorse-shaped

gun

My old faithful 

Hippocampus

To shoot irreplaceable bullets of us 

To help dispel the oncoming darkness

And our softly whispered wishes

Are still my alabaster white altar

I kneel nightly to pray upon

And weep 

What tomorrow holds as it slowly unfolds 

As Barred Owls

Hidden in trees 

Sing

Who-cooks-for-you

And Northern Mockingbirds

Ritual early morning songs are sung

By unseen omnipotent pagan Old Gods 

Who deem themes to be our preordained fates

Just know I will always wait 

By the Red Churches wrought iron old gates

Where I now belong 

For even 

Fairy tales coming true seem so distant

And out of reach 

Only to be found on King Aeetes of Colchis

Beaches 

Like by those on a mythical quest like Greek heroes

I know 

Your heart may have been broken

As it once lovingly swallowed

Loves enchanting red potions

The questions I ask 

Are simply these

Can we stay together in this quiet moment

As we grieve

For lonely souls like us

That have walked through loves red mists 

From dawn

To dusk

And now lay filled with disappointments and distrust 

Can we once again be reinvigorated

To once more explore knee-deep into the quagmires 

Of deep uncertainty

Illuminated by the flames of Aphrodisiac's red fire

And still take all the risks that may come

Even though others may question our choices and dark desires

Is there hidden 

In those seconds minutes and hours

Weeks and months and even years

A piece of opaque respite full of inspired prose and overwhelming wet invisible tears

In the quest for an endless red kiss

Is this montage but a sensuously crafted piece

To create a brief emotional distraction

To elicit vibrations

Of a mysterious place

Where lost souls meet

Under a poetic umbrella 

In peace

Societies invisible souls who now

No one will miss

In the mythical red room 

Featured with a blazing fire

Red wine and white candles 

That await two

To start conversations of introduction 

Soon

As winds of a previous lost existence 

Swirls and the eyes of jealous

Stay hidden

Forbidden in

Carefully camouflaged red mists

Does your silkened mind still crave some of my thoughts of the divine

If answers within your indulgent mind still seeks more and whispers 

Yes

Then read these poignant words when you are weak

For I can confess 

With candid heart

And willing soul until the day when I eventually disappear 

And we are truly

Apart

When I grow old

That I desire to know those answers

Be they sung

In love songs

New letters

Or handwritten stanzas

Your soulmate

Frabrato 

The eternal chancer

©

John Duffy 

The Monologue of the Survivor

 A piece for those trying to smile 

While walking 

The longest of miles 

Does it resonate?

Salute.

Title:

 

The Monologue of the Survivor 

(A lone voice whispers)

I have loved my life

Called it a thousand names

As I fought through pain

All its gifts are mine

They all reside deep inside

For

I'm illuminated

I feel everything around and within me

Even when I’m defeated

I feel sacred

I bathe in the perpetual glow

Of a glorious sun

But no matter how far I wonder

No matter how far I run

My inner sun

Holds treasures for the soul

The more I give

The more I feel whole

Although I change

Physically

Every seven years

I'm indomitable

I study the splendour of my life

I celebrate the joys and pains

For my faith

Is formidable

Stranded to rhythms and

outrageous patterns of chaos

I materialize to create my own cosmos

With

Divine symmetry

Between my powers

Of inspiration and sensation

This wild life is simply my own seance

I desire the paths I walk

The side roads

Streets and byroads

Filled with newer experiences and faces

Thrill me

I offer compassionate and benevolence

To all in need

I control the Achilles' heels

Within my world

For its fears

Are irrelevant

I celebrate in the curative power of pleasure

I satisfy my hunger within its revered well

I initiate the deep free dive

To impenetrable depths

To find my blazing strength

Flowing from my crux to create new worlds

As my guardian angels wept

Love and Laughter 

Elevate me

I hail from paradise to create my sanctuary

To pay tribute to my true spirit

For its inner beauty is beyond compare

Writing

Poetry

Singing and smiling

For

I'm an original

Simply surviving

Copyright John Duffy

The Call of The Ala--Kai

We burn
This

Rare and
Expensive DMT infused incense

Throughout all our inner temples

Here
In Tulsa
Oklahoma

To see with new
Eyes
Wide open

All Hidden
In-between

Here to the faint heartbeats

Controlled by the medulla oblongata

In the broken
Frequencies of Green

Come to us
Our Winter's Queen

From The
Frey Void

To speak
From Lands of Swirling Smoke

Above this
World's noise

Announce
Yourself

With music of pipe and ringing golden bells

As watching
Spirits

In shadow coats
Gather and Yell

Praise us
With your divine wisdom

To the beat
Of our higher self's
Drums

Ignite a furious flame
Within us

So we can

Dance in fever
And wildly run

We
Your blessed
Children

The Ala--Kai

Counting down
These Aquarius Days

In this Great Play

Of newer portals
And ancient ways

To be opened
Or reopened

So this incense

We light
Tonight

Throughout

This
Mid
September cold night

To tempt you
To call and stay

And walk

From In-Between
Spaces
Of fractured dreams

As we summon you
To learn

So appear now
We beseech

Goddess Diana

To reach
And teach

As these midnight candles
Burn

So mote it be
From all in-between

So mote it be

(C)
Copyright John Duffy

Image shared under fair usage policy

 

Mirroring from the Abyss

Title:

Mirroring from the Abyss 

(A lone voice whispers)

Am I the sacred answers you seek

Could I but be your own embodiment

of a perverse heaven or hell

Some say I’m the sweet lullaby dark angels sing

A sonnet of damnation or intense pleasure for the soul

Am I but the luscious green garden

everyone wishes to walk through

Before they leave this land to trespass to who knows

My weapons have started and ended wars

Am I but the all-consuming knife

To pierce the hearts and lonely minds

Of those who just linger lost below the long shadows

And seeking something

to reignite their light

I have been called the life-force of all creatures

Untamed or just broken

Ancient woodland groves sing pagan songs of me 

In the darkness

My names are many but only one really remains

I live to visit shamefully darkly lit places

And opulent palaces of loquacious words of sin

Bedrooms

Woods and hotel rooms

Still carry the scent of my many visits

They all pray for my return

Am I but the dark sustenance your soul needs

For once you are firmly within my grasp

I will own you for all your days and nights

For once you’ve tasted my sweet liquor

I’ll always own you as long as your light flickers

For I am the new Adam or old Eve

Forever stalking your Gardens of Creation

I walk through all countries

and my name is carried on the lips

Of the seduced within every nation

I am the glimmer

whilst lost in the darkness

And the temptations of the Black Sun

The giver of reconciliation of the soul

And knife edge which you may perpetually balance

Do you know my name yet

I'm simply the two edge sword bestowed to all living creatures from above

My name is simply.......................Love

(C)

Copyright John Duffy 

 

Whispers In The Dark

(A lone voice whispers)

Through
Ayahuasca induced
Deep dreams

In the dark Amazonian
Jungles

I remembered this being
Before I was born

In a place
Un-walked
By humans

Beyond time and space

An angelic being

Magisterial named
Phestomilee

Whispered
In my ear

Transferring her ethereal
Energies deep within me

You my son

Will regal the world
With the unfurling of
The many layers of your soul

Teardrops of poetic prose

Shall fall silently from your soft tender lips

As you embrace the many quills

Of vocabulary and write
Through

Lit and illuminated

Overflowing within its grips
Of its ever ensuing quips

You are now blessed forever
To narrate stories

To
Shine a light in the shadows

Of the reader's inquisitive minds

And
With this pre-conception whisper

I shall follow and guide
You through time

If you ever meet fellow kindred Spirits souls

I have previously echoed this Sacred Sentiment

Before they too were born

Remember it's simply me
Sounding my poetic horn

For

There

In their communities
You shall find yourself home

Amongst friends
When you are eventually born

So be it
She whispered

A silent symbolic spell
I now pass on

As once midnight skies
Turn turquoise blue

Is that why I
Know you

And you now
Know me

Have you too
Been whispered to

By Phestomilee?

Copyright John Duffy

 I still searched for you

Throughout endless falling rain

My mind still screaming

Will I ever see my queen

Or are you gone forever

(C)

Copyright John Duffy 

(Tanka)

The tanka is a thirty-one-syllable poem, traditionally written in a single unbroken line. A form of waka, Japanese song or verse, tanka translates as “short song,” and is better known in its five-line, 5/7/5/7/7 syllable count form.