The Concubine

 

The Concubine 

(A lone female voice whispers clutching a photograph)

Sometimes 

I stand silent and still 

Just staring up at the blazing hot sun

Is there nowhere left

For me 

To now quickly run

No retreat or temple of Salvation

After all is 

Said and done 

No matter how you preach

Or shout

I've done all of this 

For you

Lived this old life

Swam the many emotional oceans

Walked 

The dark lonely wastelands 

As the passing grey clouds

Turned blue

But

When I stand silently still

Under the blazing sun

And close 

My deep green eyes

Even though inside

I see the shining beacon

An innovative revealing 

Of a deep inner truth

Even though 

The emotional 

Undulating oceans

Still whisper your

Still treasured name

This fate I've chosen 

To be your concubine

Numbs the fire and heat

And keeps me eternally

Frozen

My time may be near 

The grey mists are parting and it's all becoming rather clear

I need to leave to start living and to

Really breathe

But I can still feel 

You just running 

Through all of my pulsating veins

For all those old ways still haunt me 

Still

Visiting in the quiet darkness 

At three

They always remain 

Like gate crashing guests

But when 

The early morning sun rises

And I open my eyes

It burns them into tiny grey embers

Sending them up high

Into the blazing hot sun

And as I pause and bathe in its glorious undertow 

As I watch the Autumns

Golden leaves fall

And hope break through all my inner carefully

Compartmentalized walls

No matter where this new life

Goes

I really know

I'll just be ok

Because I know I'll rise

And no longer fall

No matter what

 gets 

In my way

Starting from today 

(C) Copyright John Duffy 

Image shared under fair usage policy