. Poetry from The Great In-Between: December 2023

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Chanelling Natalie Wood



Quite a controversial topic, and subject to many unanswered questions.  


This Natalie Wood story is based on her reflection on her life. 

Her tragic love life. 


The painful trauma left upon her soul, and ultimately her death.

She survives on with the thought justice will prevail, and karma will be fully paid.


A working monologue for a supernatural project on hold, (due to Covid) connected to the Great In-Between.


Hopefully, I can restart it. The auditions were quite emotional to watch.


Logline: 


Do ghosts speak in poetry? 


Did I channel Natalie Wood at 3 am as I wrote this monologue? 


Title: 

Chanelling Natalie Wood


 

Well here I am again

 

Back from November

Eighty–one

 

Is it raining outside

It quite feels like it is

 

Over the years

I’ve watched and waited

 

But lately, I feel so weak

And I just can’t keep quiet and sedated

 

Maybe it’s time to speak

Using this unique channelling technique


When I first started acting at such a young age


I didn't know who the hell I was

 

When I was younger

I tried to be whoever

 

They wanted me to be

 

My mother

Maria

 

Bless her soul

Used to tell me

 

No matter what they ask you


Wherever you end up or

Go

 

Always say yes

You can learn later

 

I wish I had just sometimes


Stood up for myself and

Said no

 

I've always been terrified of deep water

And yet it seems

 

I was forced to go into the water


In every movie

That I ever appeared

In

 

From 1943

 

It’s rather cruel and tragic

That I was to die


According to the police

By drowning at sea

 

I was so once overprotected

 

By my agents

Mother and who I thought

We're close friends

 

I used to think I was as so delicate as people said


And it’s still rather strange how I still feel

 

For there are times

In here

 

When I look above

At that big screen


Which always rolls

 

I see me as a young stranger

 

Lost like a Christmas miracle

Walking on 34th Street

 

And there are sad times

When I look below at that other big screen

 

For there are two you know

 

Here in this dark cinema

In the Great In-Between

 

One that shows you the light side of your life

And the other

 

The darkness

 

It’s your choice which one you watch

Some say it’s a form of divine catharsis

 

 Which will help you rise above

All that pain

 

Hidden in those iconic

Moments of self-analysis

 

Well whenever I look below

 

I always see the one I thought would love

Me forever

 

I guess

Almost every girl falls in love with the wrong man


I suppose it’s part of growing up

And yes

 

I can still feel you

You know your name

 

Like a young Jim Stark

 

Always rebelling without a cause

In everything I still do

 

Those small moments

Running wild within these visits

 

Into my life’s many old business

 

Moments where I was lost and

Trying to find a West Side story

 

To live in forever with someone

Like Tony

 

Hiding somewhere

From all the splendours

In all those tall green grasses

 

On the big Hollywood Hills

 

I still see painful flashbacks

 

To where powerful strangers

In VIP hotel rooms

 

Sometimes

Seek sex with single girls

 

Seeking fame

And them

They willingly consume

 

Where you could fall deeply in love

With someone

 

And be totally lost in

Those tranquil bouts of emotional insurrections

 

At first a silent revolution and

Then a forced rebellion when they leave

 

But above

 

On the surface

Which we show the world

 

From here to eternity

 

I've learned

We hide ourselves to the watchers

 

Lying to ourselves while

Parading such a false love

 

I loved you once

Robert

 

But below that surface

Where the darkness multiplies

And grows

 

Like those painful moments

I endured in Chateau Marmont

 

Where feelings of doubts

Deep inner fears and invisible tears

 

Always return for they cannot ever be washed

But always haunt

 

I always prayed they

Wouldn’t stay

 

But they always go on and on

 

All questions heralding from the

Moment I met the smiling

Snarling

 

Paris Pitman Jr.

The Spartacus people loved

 

The popular

Mister Who Knows

Dressed in his white coat

And with his foolish

 

Devilish stare

 

The king of all those action

Picture shows

 

I can still see him smiling everywhere

 

I may seem calm and collected

But beneath the surface

 

I once feared to be rejected

By RJ and the watching world

 

But for now

 I still smile and play

 

With Elvis

Empowered with the hope

 

That those painful memories will fade


And these mysterious four winds will

Blow all old those fears away

 

It's how I now cope

 

I no longer visit my deep depths

Where I was once drowned

 

By shall I just say

Two accomplices

 

Off the coast of Santa Catalina

 

In those dark blue waters

A place where light

Lies in the distance

 

For now though

I’ll stay kneeling in front of these

Four candles

 

Steadfast in the hope

Justice will prevail

 

To bring truth and an end to this

Scandal

 

Have you two been afraid

As you age

 

Of changing your statements

And all its misleading intent

 

To extinguish your dark secrets

For it binds you to feelings of

Guilt

 

Which I know must feel so tragic

 

Have you two built your lives around

Just serving you

 

Listened

Hypnotized to believe your lies

 

 

Now the public no longer

Cries

 

Have some of your memories

Been happy


And some may have been magic

 

But in a moment of heart-to-heart

Do time and guilt

 

Make your hearts grow colder

Even as all my own children get older

 

The Great In-Between

Is waiting to judge you

Both

 

But you have a good life

While we all still wait

 

Seek love

Something denied to me

Like an untamed gipsy

 

Embrace its golden rays

As we now judge

 

Major Garrett

 

Now he’s entered a town without pity

Somewhere in here

 

High up in the Holy City

 

Remember

 

Tomorrow Is Forever

And these old movies never stop

They just go on

 

Catching all the Jekyll and Mr Hydes

On the bottom screen

 

As we


All the victims of some sort of mortal crime

Or violence

 

Standstill

Hidden but always watching


Waiting patiently in silence

 

Alongside our faithful spirit guides

Amongst the long shadows

 

Waiting to hand out justice

To the corrupted

 

When their time comes

And their lives are too

 

Interrupted

 

Confess now

 

Before you two

Stand before us

 

It’s your only way to find a path

To your own salvation

 

Before your eventual sentence

If you don’t show repentance

 

Remember we wait

 

I never knew motherhood could be so truly gratifying until I had children

 

Moments I still miss

 

Because I was sent alone

To a place where their soft cheeks

 

I could no longer touch or kiss

 


I miss you so much, Lana

And my daughters


Natasha and Courtney

Just remember and always think of me

 

(C)

Copyright John Duffy


Image shared under fair usage policy.



Monday, December 25, 2023

Like Podcasts?


A Christmas Day podcast.

A new series I'm developing over the festive period. 


Written by me and narrated by, Clinton R. Johnson, who has such a superb voice. 

Have a listen after all that #Christmas dinner. 

#Spotify

Click Here for the Spotify Link. Salute.

Sunday, December 24, 2023


Katharine Hepburn’s childhood, in her own words.


“Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus.


Finally, there was only one other family between us and the ticket counter. 


This family made a big impression on me.


There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. 


The way they were dressed, you could tell they didn't have a lot of money, but their clothes were neat and clean.


The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by-two behind their parents, holding hands.


 They were excitedly jabbering about the clowns, animals, and all the acts they would be seeing that night.


 By their excitement, you could sense they had never been to the circus before. 


It would be a highlight of their lives.


The father and mother were at the head of the pack standing proud as could be. 


The mother was holding her husband's hand, looking up at him as if to say, "You're my knight in shining armour." 


He was smiling and enjoying seeing his family happy.


The ticket lady asked the man how many tickets he wanted. 


He proudly responded, "I'd like to buy eight children's tickets and two adult tickets, so I can take my family to the circus." 


The ticket lady stated the price.


The man's wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man's lip began to quiver. 


Then he leaned a little closer and asked, "How much did you say?" 


The ticket lady again stated the price.


The man didn't have enough money. 


How was he supposed to turn and tell his eight kids that he didn't have enough money to take them to the circus?


Seeing what was going on, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and then dropped it on the ground. 


(We were not wealthy in any sense of the word!)


 My father bent down, picked up the $20 bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said,


 "Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket."


The man understood what was going on. 


He wasn't begging for a handout but certainly appreciated the help in a desperate, heartbreaking and embarrassing situation.


He looked straight into my dad's eyes, took my dad's hand in both of his, squeezed tightly onto the $20 bill, and with his lip quivering and a tear streaming down his cheek, he replied;  


"Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family."


My father and I went back to our car and drove home. 


The $20 that my dad gave away is what we were going to buy our own tickets with.


Although we didn't get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide.


That day I learnt the value to Give.


The Giver is bigger than the Receiver.


 If you want to be large, larger than life, learn to Give. 


Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything.


The importance of giving, blessing others can never be over emphasised because there's always joy in giving. 


Learn to make someone happy by acts of giving.”



~ Katharine Hepburn, 

 

Friday, December 22, 2023

Need A Covid Prayer in 2023?



Oh Lord

Remind me to
Smile

Because by
Your divine grace

In the face of
Covid and
All it embraces

I'm still alive
A privilege denied

To many 

Who have
Suddenly died

Remind me
I've so much more to give 

As I still live

And with your bright 
White stars 
Lighting my way

At night

To show me the beauty
Of doing my spiritual duty

To light a candle of hope 
In someone

As they repent
To ascend

As they cope

To wipe their tears away 
Today

And to make your love grow stronger

Longer
Everyday

To undo old wrongs

It's why I kneel to pray
And whisper

You'll come
Visit and stay

Amen

(C)
Copyright John Duffy
 

Image shared under fair usage policy. 

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Here's to you..

 


Like paper boats

Colliding in the Eternal Ocean


We sometimes

Come together


In the commotion  

And whisper


Have a Merry Christmas


As we share the First Law of the Chosen


By expressing our devotion


To other

Travellers


In the

Eternal Ocean


To help them 

Not to feel unwanted

Or frozen


Merry Christmas 


(C)

Copyright John Duffy


Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Calliope

 I

Calliope say



Use my two 

Sacred keys


One 

Silver for remorse


One 

Gold for reconciliation


To enter a new kingdom

Riding a wild

Tennessee walking horse


To be cleansed by 

My powers

And forces


Of redemption and salvation


To be divorced 

From Sin


As you walk through 

Your life


And all you meet

On its concourses


To be made righteous 

To try to ascend to Heaven 


As you conquer

The virus


Of pious apologies

And actions


Of those creating

Crisis 


To blind and try to 

Guide you


With poisoned words

Filled with typhus 


To take more

And more boosters


Of sweet lies

And vaccines


Until your lifeless


Before you rise

Up from the dead 

Like us


So I your eternal muse say


Let the poetry in you

Rise up


To fight 

The corrupt


For your freedom

Before you stand

Outside


Waiting for his highness


Saint Peter

To open his silvery

Gates


To a new kingdom

For the worthy and 

Righteous


So use and abuse my powers 

Until you can join

Us


To encourage others 

Just lost 


In the swirling 

Universe's Dust


(C)

Copyright John Duffy, 

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Ode to Anastasia


 

You were born 

In late November


This I'll know forevermore

As I look back and remember


For we shall be together

In Nevermore


Even when Death visits


And offers you a drink of his sacrilegious dark wine

 

To end all your days

And time


We shall be together 

Twinned

Pilgrims 


In the silent memory of God


Lost somewhere

But together in the same spaces 

In-Between


And as the soft capricious winds of heavens

Change and dance like a wild Anna Pavlova


Between us


Creating a moving sea of love between our souls


We shall know

In that instance


Holding hands

In the universe's

Dust


That we can sing and dance together 

Forever 


And be joyous in each and every form


For ours is a love story

Beyond the norm


A love story

Composed in multiforms

and kept safely 


Beyond the Great Pillars 

In a sacred tabernacle


On a mahogany shelf

By the Holy Oak Tree 

By the Eternal Sea


This I know


Because 

Before I was born


You were written  

Into my history


By my spirit guides

And God


Just for me


(C)

Copyright John Duffy


Monday, December 4, 2023

Praise Be

Press play before reading. 

Salute. 

,



(A lone voice sings.)


O Succumb

O Succumb


For he comes


To the sounds

Of Heavens drums


To lift

All feelings 

You hold dear


O Succumb

For he comes


O Succumb

To the sounds

Of Heavens drums


To lift your spirits

Some

And to numb


All fears

Or tears


Around here


O Succumb

O Succumb


For he comes


To the sounds

Of Heavens drums


So dance 

Till dawn 

        

Dance        

For you were

Born


For love

To live on


So sing

So sing

Along


So sing

Sing along


O Succumb

O Succumb


For he comes


O Succumb

For he comes


To the sounds

To the sounds


Of Heavens drums


To the sounds

Of Heavens drums


O Succumb

O Succumb


So sing

So sing

Along


So sing

Along


To the sounds

Of Heavens drums


Praise Be


Praise Be

Hallelujah 

For he comes 


So sing 

So sing along


Hallelujah

For he comes

(C)

Copyright John Duffy




                   

Sunday, December 3, 2023

The Crimson Queen

 


Hidden here

In this ever-cold 


Growing Darkness

I wait


I

The

Crimson Queen


Sending flames 

Of Hope 


Like floating leaves


Downwind

By moonlight


To those needing

Them

To cope


By running their fingertips


Up and down their

Naked skin


As the leaves land

Melt and merge

Within 


While I watch

From my midnight gate. 


Will you surrender to my flames


If I called your name


To purge all you hate

Before it's too late


(C)

Copyright John Duffy


Image shared under fair usage policy. 



The Christmas Anniversary


 


 I felt a playground full of missed sensations tonight

For the first time in so long


The love songs 


To my inner sanctuary have been plundered

By grief's harsh words 

Filled with thunder


I can only hope and pray

We meet again

Some day


For rare moments 

Sometimes appear under the sun


Moments to make your heart beat faster 

Like a drum 


So when 

He Who Casts A Long Shadow Called

For you


With his wide smile of 

How Do



I can still remember you saying


Love's a dangerous game 

One of fire and no hint of shame


But we played it so well

So as I cross over


With he who has come


Always remember me and all the fun we had

Before it all turned bad


So today

I smile


Proud to have played

Proud to feel this pain


For when finding true love


You'll live forever

For someone special


Will always remember 

Your name


(C)

Copyright John Duffy





  

Friday, December 1, 2023

The Spell Caster


Missing your midnight 

Embrace


With Mother Moon 

Crying to


With beams

Of bright moonlight

Show you the way


Beseeching you 

To lookup 

In her glorious night sky


To see her clouds

Slowly part and start to play 


To say

Come find

The old oak trees 


That she's commanded to sway


As she asks you to follow


That feeling

That you hear in your soul 


To help overcome

Your sorrow

Tomorrow 


That bids

You to go


Before our life ends


To find my invitation 

That glows 

Crimson and red


A burning fire

Where fireflies dance

In delight


Hoping 

You'd take the chance 


To conquer your butterflies and fight

With chants of


I seek love


Into the burning 

Pyre


So we can dance

Entwined


Just you

And me


To be 

Reunited


Under her

Decree


As this old world

Burns


So

Will

You step into the magic

circle


The one made

By the Midnight Moon


That's eternal


So 

We can wilfully

Sin


As we begin

With no rehearsal 


When our souls embrace our inner power


Compelled

By this spell


As the watching stars

Yell


In this very 

Hour


Underneath 

Mother Moon's

Midnight 


Witching hour


(C)

Copyright John Duffy



The Invitation