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.

The Angels Voice

 

A whisper I once heard, talking to me in a deep dream. In the low hours.

++++++++++++++++++++++

We who have lived 

and walked for more 

than a thousand years 

Invisible amongst you all 

The ever-growing 

and changing masses

Have heard and tried to answer 

so many heartfelt prayers 

as we were called 

Invocations spoken 

in the long shadows 

When pain

Suffering 

Emotional anguish 

Or grief suddenly strikes 

And convinced many 

to try to stay the course 

And be part of living 

this lifes wonderful dream

Whenever they felt doubtful 

As things seemed 

to fall apart at the seams

To always remember

No matter how magnetic 

The seductive pull 

of dark temptations

How green their own grass is 

whilst they still live 

And have so much more 

which to share and give 

We've held soft and 

hard-working hands

Of the rich or poor 

Consoled the young 

and old and tried to comfort

So many crying silently 

In the painful 

mazes of their own darkness 

Its unspoken number 

is truly unfathomable

We've appeared in many forms 

before so many others

In the dark and cold 

Sent by the Almighty on High 

To try to nurture 

and encourage those who cry

Endowing them 

with a higher power 

to always find the strength 

and courage 

In rekindling their inner flame 

Once lit so long ago 

by a sacred candle 

As we first heard 

and learnt their soul's 

secret name

To stand up strong and 

be willing and able

For we're indomitable

Angels 

sent to bring hope 

to the inconsolable

Bringers 

of so much inner peace 

For God is our strength 

and ministry 

One that speaks of 

everlasting mercy and promise

No matter how dark your worlds

Many changing political landscapes 

or forests 

My favourite name is 

Archangel Gabriel

And 

If you find one of my 

billions of white feathers 

That I sometimes leave

Especially 

for those heartbroken souls 

who in these sad times

Linked to Covid  

Grieve 

And need to once again 

Be encouraged to believe 

That their beloved 

is in a better place 

So 

As you live through your limited 

mortal life

Just pick one up 

and keep it really close

For it will bring you peace 

and tranquillity

Throughout all those morose 

long cold winters 

or hot summer nights 

When you need a new belief 

or phenomenon

Whilst seeking to conquer 

or accept 

Your physical or 

mental vulnerabilities 

To help you carry on

(And then the voice faded.....)

(C)

Copyright John Duffy 

Image courtesy of Pinterest.

A Christmas Poem

In the silence of staring

At a beautiful red luxurious Christmas card 

Laying on their once well-loved king-size bed 

Then looking coldly ahead 
As she paused and slowly remembered

A true love
Who was once so caring 

But is now hidden amongst the many sleeping dead 

With inscribed headboards made out of marble and stone 

In the cemetery 
Downtown

Laying forever with a bouquet of white Lillies 

For company 

On his own 
All alone

And as she stared longingly out of that open window 

Thinking 

Where do the dead possibly go

And to what Kingdom

A sudden gust of wind from her backyard
Blew a white feather 

Onto that card 

Catching her off guard
And reminding her 

The world and all its joys which were once theirs 

Which now feels so bitterly hard and unfair

Those incredible smiling ones
Tied together with a golden bow of fun 

Before came that card on their bed

All the way from Barcelona in Spain 

The one sent 
With the rising of the sun

But now filled with pain 
Before he flew 

In it said 
Written in gold and blue 

Happy Christmas
To you

My beautiful boo
And see you soon

Get that tree up so snow and happiness can reign
Xxx

But he never arrived 
He never came 

Instead
He died in a car crash at sunrise 

But worry not 
This is just a piece of fiction 

Just a poetic reminder 
That you never know your earthly time 

So take this as an open invitation 

Filled with a supernatural conviction 

Try to be happy before fatality breaks you up 

For the world’s not as pretty as it seems 

This Christmas

Celebrate it 
As if it's your last 

If you can

Try not to be like one of the lonely people

Baptized forever to sit staring 

By the cruel Gods of the Despairing

No more caring 
But bearing a heavy load

Perhaps like Scrooge 

Painfully pondering 
And always wondering 

How long
Will the pain they feel 

Linger and last 
As they live 

Cold

Like one of lifes
Lonely outcasts

(C)
Copyright John Duffy

Image courtesy of Pinterest.

If Life was a Senryū

I give you freely 

Relationships love and pain 

In any order 

(5,7,5)

(C)

Copyright John Duffy

Senryū is a Japanese form of short poetry similar to haiku in construction: 

three lines with 17 syllables. 

Line 1 has 5.

Line 2 has 7.

Line 3 has 5

Senryū tends to be about human emotions while haiku tend to be about nature, and senryū are often cynical or darkly humorous while haiku are more serious.

Image courtesy of Pinterest.

Questions for an inquisitive mind

 

Lost like Captain Briggs 

On the Mary Celeste

In the graveyard shift 

And 

Sailing into wild seas 

of crashing fast words 

With metaphors following our ship 

like relentless Seagulls 

or other scavengerous birds

Do we as poets or writers 

Seek out and use profound words

To help the sometimes lonely souls 

Reading even this

To find a plateau to distract themselves 

from the ever-ravenous world 

With our divine gift 

As they temporarily anchor 

their ships

Maybe a world filled with heartache 

Abuse 

Grief 

Depression 

Anxiety 

Or even sudden death

While the rising Wolf Moon smiles 

and watches 

As their time and spiritual essences 

are endlessly consumed

Are poets and writers 

like me or even you 

Just the true kings and queens 

of the art of 

Creatio Ex Nihilo

Because we're so skilled 

at making things up 

without little fuss 

To say hello 

So the readers know 

That they are not alone

With stories 

that can sometimes save 

and comfort those 

Who needs something emotional 

to help carry them 

through the low hours

And change their mood

Especially 

in the middle of the dawn 

or dusk 

When old emotions or pain 

Can suddenly bloom 

like an irremovable wound

Without a sound 

By all the Gods

Known to man

Praise be to the Universe 

For the answers to all 

Those monumental 

Questions 

Has always been 

Yes 

(C)

Copyright John Duffy 

Image courtesy of Pinterest.

The love song of Shirley O'May

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Salute 

Oh my  

Shirley O'May  

My Shirley O'May  

I still miss your sweet smile  

Today  

Today

  

Caught no more  

Than a ray

Than a ray

Standing  

By your grave  

Is that why  

My sky's always grey  

Always grey  

Oh my  

Oh my  

Shirley O'May  

Shirley O'May  

For my soul felt real pain  

Today  

Real pain today  

When it remembered  

The sacred vow  

We once made  

Once made  

Under the cherry tree  

You and me  

You and me  

With Father Mckay  

Father Mckay  

On Valentine's Day  

Your birthday  

Your birthday  

But I guess  

If God could confess  

Confess  

He would say  

It's why he made  

Memories  

Memories

So those you love  

Like you and me  

Once wed under  

The Cherry Tree  

The Cherry Tree  

So those you love  

Stay  

And never truly fade  

Away

Stay  

But never truly fade  

Away

Oh my  

My beloved  

Shirley O'May  

I still miss your sweet smile  

Even though  

It was taken from me  

On the 5th of May  

On the 5th of May  

Everyday  

Everyday  

For even though  

We have memories  

Memories  

My heart  

Will always feel grey  

Feel grey  

For it will forever miss  

The things it loves  

When they go away

Away  

Like you  

Like You  

My life's first kiss  

My one and only 

Beloved  

Beloved  

Shirley O'May  

Shirley O'May  

  

  

(C)  

Copyright John Duffy

Image courtesy of Pinterest.

Argento Dreams

 (A lone voice whispers)

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Salute.

I've got a deep well 

Covered in strange green and golden ivy

Built under a golden glimmering bell

In my garden of deep lucid dreams 

Lost somewhere in Morpheus Wonder Grounds

It's a quiet beautiful place 

Of total surrender 

I sometimes remember 

As I lay tenderly in my chamber

A place where my profound Guardian Angel 

My eternal 

Muse waits 

My spiritual queen who brings me 

Divine gifts linked to soul-lifting poetry 

Always whispering 

In my subconscious

Dépêche-toi 

Dépêche-toi 

Dépêche-toi 

(Hurry up.)

(Hurry up.)

(Hurry up.)

Dépêche-toi

As she watches from The Great In-Between 

While I play in the real worlds 

Many fast-moving streams

Whilst I'm awake and moving around

But when my tired eyes start to 

Flicker and quiver 

And start to look across at Slumber Down's slow-moving river

She rings that golden magical bell 

To summon me to the Talking Bench 

So my soul 

She may converse with in supernatural 

Visions 

and multiple forms 

And her hungry thirst for company 

Quench 

Dépêche-toi 

Dépêche-toi 

Dépêche-toi 

Is all I hear 

When my tired eyes 

Search for Slumber Downs River 

Along with

Viens à moi mon amour.

Et laissez-moi vous baptiser avec des visions incroyables, d'en haut.

Car nous possédons la nuit, comme nous nous possédons.

Come to me, my love.

And let me baptize you with incredible visions, from so High Above.

For we own the night like we own each other.

Dépêche-toi 

Dépêche-toi 

N'ose jamais m'oublier 

(Don't you ever dare to  forget me )

So who am I 

To let angels weep 

For can just faintly hear that golden bell ring 

Summoning me to The Talking Bench 

As she sings 

Dépêche-toi 

Dépêche-toi 

(Hurry up)

(Hurry up)

Et laisse-moi être ton Hélène de Troie 

(And let me be your Helen of Troy )

Maintenant, endormez-vous 

(Now fall to sleep)

Mon âme sœur et viens dans mon donjon.

(My soul mate and come to my keep)

(C}

Copyright John Duffy 

Image shared via Pinterest.

Do politicians wear a mask? Some quietly ask.

(A lone voice whispers)

Do politicians wear a mask
Some quietly ask 

One that smiles so sweetly
While it hides their lies 

Linked to promises
Made throughout the weeks 

To desperate eager hungry eyes 

With hearts beating
Powered by odious guile 

And narcissism 

Unable to really answer
Any forms of criticism 

While living in a secret world of elitism 

Which rewards new concepts and policies 

Linked to creating division
While toasting capitalism 

Can we the paying public 

Ever trust all their costly decisions 

Presented with a soft voice of kindness 

Deals and contracts 

Signed and sealed with secret handshakes 

In champagne-filled backrooms 

That will lead so many chanting in glee 

Unable to see 

It will lead them dancing to the cemetery 

So here's today's task 

Can you ever trust a smiling politician 

With bright sharp caring eyes

And a smile as wide as a country mile 

Who obviously
Wears 

A devious mask 

(C)
Copyright John Duffy

Images courtesy of Pinterest. 

The Repentant Soul Speaks

 The Repentant Soul Speaks

(A lone voice whispers)

I still miss your sweet voice.

(For deep down.
Past all my innermost self-doubts.
I just miss it so much.)

I can still remember the last time I heard it.

It was June, the thirty-first.
(When we were in touch.)

Its dulcet tones spoke of such delicious, luscious things to be explored in the dark. At night.

To be brave enough to expose and tear one's soul apart.

A once much-held-up secret theory by Descartes.

(For such was its seductive power, like Francisco de Goya's, "The Nude Maja.
A true work of art.)

Is that why life is sometimes so painful.
(As I sit lonely. Thinking of you at my table.)

Thinking constantly of my one and only angel.

I guess I should be grateful.

That I feel remorseful.

For I once heard a strange story about Micheal the Archangel.

Stating quite eloquently.

To have once lived.
Loved and lost.

Is never shameful.

But to have never known love

Now that could be fatal.

(C)
Copyright John Duffy

Image courtesy of Pinterest.

Is this where humanity is heading?

 

In these dark times, you need your faith even more. 

An interesting read I recently came across. 

Obviously written tongue in cheek but seems so relevant. 

Salute. 

′One young devil asked the old man:

"How did you manage to bring so many souls to hell?" 

The old devil answered:

 "I instilled fear in them!"

 Answers the youngster: 

"Great job!

And what were they afraid of? 

Wars? Hunger?" 

Answers the man:

 "No, they were afraid of the disease!" 

For this youngster:

 "Does this mean they didn't get sick? 

Are they not dead? 

There was no rescue for them?"

The old man answered:

 "but no . . . they got sick, died, and the rescue was there." 

The young devil, surprised, answered: 

"Then I don't understand???" 

The old man answered:

 "You know they believed the only thing they have to keep at any cost is their lives.

They stopped hugging, greeting each other.

 They've moved away from each other. 

They gave up all social contacts and everything that was human!

 Later they ran out of money, lost their jobs, but that was their choice because they were afraid for their lives, that's why they quit their jobs

 without even having bread.

They believed blindly everything they heard and read in the papers.  

 

They gave up their freedoms, they didn't leave their own homes literally anywhere. 

They stopped visiting family and friends. 

The world turned into such a concentration camp, without forcing them into captivity.  

They accepted everything!!! 

Just to live at least one more miserable day . . .

 And so living, they died every day!!! 

And that's how it was very easy for me to take their miserable souls to hell..... ′′

Don't let the darkness in.

It comes calling in many forms you know!

Hate, fear, jealousy, envy, sloth, politics and so many more. 

Sending best wishes and blessings. 

Be safe in spirit as well as life. Salute.

.