The Last Words of Atticus

  

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Salute.

(A lone voice whispers)

Now my life's great party 

is over and this Black Hole  

 

I now live within 

Ruled over by Father Sin  

Which just loves to breathe 

me in and out 

Like the silver flutes once did 

When I used to walk by 

and watch the marching Bands 

of Manhattan play 

Smiling 

as the Majorettes 

twirled their shiny batons 

High in the sky

Oh, what I wouldn't give 

in this loud sound of silence

  

To quieten this startling pain 

that still hurts the most  

Even though 

I'm now just another 

lonely ghost

My cherished memories 

Of you 

Will always be my 

Immortal key 

Home

As I wait in here 

to atone

 

I used to pray 

that I'd wake up free 

from this asylum 

In the warm arms 

of my beloved 

but now lost Angel 

But no matter 

how hard the memories 

or even how painful 

 I'll keep it 

as a happy place 

Filled with all her love 

and photographs 

So, I'll just wait here 

In a hidden place 

found on no handwritten 

or drawn maps 

 

Somewhere 

Lost 

As I flutter 

my white flag of defeat  

In the cold and hot heat 

of The Great In-Between 

 

Lingering 

by these bright lights 

like I was 

walking on the Moon 

Kicking up broken 

white stones 

 

Singing sad songs 

for the hordes 

Standing 

in the creepy shadows 

On these mean streets

Watching me crying 

like a wounded King 

 

Come Back   

Don't fear us 

you won't fall 

They all chant 

as the Golden Bell rings 

 

The Crying Game 

needs feeding 

The eleven-inch nails 

need pulling out 

to stop the bleeding 

 

Stay with us 

The Nameless Things   

We who whisper and sing 

in the Dark 

all around you 

 

But all by myself 

I'll try to stay alive 

Somehow 

 

 They can keep their 

Poison and Red Wine 

Their Civil Wars 

Where even gravity falls 

 

Either way 

Here is my lone call 

 

You'll always be my reason  

My every time  

My light in this dark 

No matter the seasons 

For all my rivers of memories 

and worn-out road maps

Interweaved 

in my heavy head 

and embedded 

in my weary heart 

Always lead me 

Riding in paper boats

Back to you 

 In this mad mad world 

Even though now everything 

has fallen apart 

Just like us two

A pair of Father Times 

many heartbroken 

sweethearts

Mon seul espoir dans un monde sombre 

 (My only hope in a dark world)

 

(C)

Copyright John Duffy 

Image courtesy of Pinterest.