The Island

(A lone voice whispers)

As I lay here

Under my apple tree

With my head on my pillow

Looking at my only treasure

A white feather 

By the sea

I can still remember the first time

The Ebb and Flow came looking for me

And I witnessed all those old things once hidden 

When my eyes couldn't see

When it engulfed me in its fine mists

Of secret memories 

The mysteries 

Insecurities 

Jealousy 

Lies 

And all other forgotten things

That Ebb and Flow from beyond the Great Sea

Brought to me

Forgotten moments

Missed chances

Last dances

And the loneliness of standing in a dark circle of never-ending silence

Gripped knee-deep in the black sludge 

Of the Hylands

Now alone on this island 

In the middle of a black sea

With only a white pillow 

White feather and an apple tree

For company 

I still see her

Skin as soft and white as snow

Dressed in blue Levi jeans

White tee

And black high heels

Blue sharp eyes

Beautiful and blonde like a young smiling Marilyn Monroe

Reminded by the mists of the Ebb and Flow

Which touches all things and binds to the spine

The past

Present and future

For they are the polestar

Of all good and evil

The collector and receiver 

Of all things made of matter on Earth

By seeing missed moments and mistakes

When I let that girl ride on her horse called Wildfire 

Right out of my paddocks gates

When my heart took shell fire from Desires Gatling gun

Is that why I'm stuck on this lonely island in the middle of this Black Sea

Sentenced 

To lay 

Under this apple tree 

Inscribed with the many etched in names 

Of past visitors 

With a white pillow and white feather for company 

Lord

Until I find Repentance

To climb higher

Haunted each night

By the Ebb and Flow 

About the girl with blonde hair who looked like a young smiling Marilyn Monroe 

Wearing Levi and a white tee

On a horse called Wildfire

Who I once let go

(C)

Copyright John Duffy 

Image shared under fair usage policy