Temptation

Foundation.

In such a fluid interconnected world, are long-term relationships dwindling in numbers?

Is temptation saturating society, and creating an influx of communications, subtly asking for a second chance?

The Email to Monique 

Whenever I think of you,

I always feel a familiar calling

A soft echo which rhythmically whispers before each morning

I can still feel you

And it carries such magnificent tales of us slipping and sliding

Entwined together spiritually 

As a new world was dawning

But like all things borne into the bright lights

There are things lurking in the night

Things we failed to see 

To pray against and fight

And so now we both live alone

Me in bondage to time and memories 

And you

A sentinel in the in-between spaces

Who I still see

A serene face reflected in random windows

“Perdóname mi amor

La oscuridad vino por mi

Y en ese único momento 

Olvidé tu nombre"

(C) Copyright John Duffy 

Translation:

Forgive me my love

The darkness came for 

me

And in that one moment 

I forgot your name

. 

The Entrepreneur

 

A recent share on a post, that is so relevant to poets writing in a world seeped in instant self gratification.

Title.

The Entrepreneur

(A lone voice whispers)

We do what we do, because we are old school

Inspired by the likes of visionaries such as, Michelangelo or, Vincent van Gogh

For in a modern world driven to seek immediate validation, and the trappings of success

We may be becoming a rare breed

For deep down, we know this unconditionally 

Unconsciously

We are a work in progress

We who do the hard work constantly, through patience, and resilience 

We know we will eventually see the journey has been worth it

As we are blessed

When the world eventually sees or embraces our portfolios 

For that immense need driven by relentless consistency, patience, and resilience

Will eventually knock on a certain door to be opened by us

Marked 

"For the brave

Who conquered the Lands of Broken Dreams filled with Regrets"

(C) Copyright John Duffy 

Image shared under fair usage policy.

The Repetition of Time

 

(A lone voice whispers)

Loss covers many different  paradigms.

From relationships, family, and friends, but one pivotal thought sometimes gets forgotten in grief. 

When someone suddenly has died.

The love you both once shared, will live forever.

Just hidden in a Repetition of Time, as you suddenly remember this 17 syllable drop of bliss.

In five, seven, five.

As those old memories, fire and come alive.

To just miss someone 

Is to have been truly loved

Treasure those moments.

(C)

Copyright John Duffy 

Image shared under fair usage policy 

The Easter Time Loop

 

(A lone voice whispers)

Will you still

Walk with me

The one I once named

Anointed and baptized within my mind

In my own ancient

Gardens of Gethsemane

Where together once again

I shall no longer stand alone

Will you pray wherever you are

To empower me

When the Darkness Temple Soldiers come

To encourage me

To help me to breach all the rugged mountains

I need to cross

To atone

But all I ask of you

Now 

At this moment

Is simply this

Upon my sanguine lonely cheek

Plant an incandescent soft spiritual kiss of belief 

And whisper 

Amen

To reignite my eternal soul

To help me clench tightly my hardworking hands

As we both

Into this new rebirth, wait for release again 

From this inexplicable deceptive life

We both now live

Within 

If you visit this

My time loop in words 

Surrounded by sin

Where I'm constantly reborn

To walk Via Dolorosa

Also known as the Sorrowful Way 

In the Old City of Jerusalem

So I ask

Will you light some frankincense and myrrh, incense candles 

Someday 

Soon

So the aroma

Can reach and carry the prayers of the faithful

And yours 

Even higher

From wherever they are

In whichever rooms

Urging those prayers to rise faster to Heaven 

So someone I know 

Can hear their call for help or guidance 

From spiritual depression 

To help them keep standing in the lines of those enjoying the power of faith

Through self-expression 

(C) Copyright John Duffy

Image shared under fair usage policy 

A simple question?

 

Harold's letter found in his old blue briefcase

 

Foundation.

Have you ever found letters written in the past, and submerged yourself in the intriguing details?

Title:

Harold's letter found in his old blue briefcase

You always looked like a daydream

A beautiful young Katharine Hepburn 

A true African Queen 

With crow black hair and dark mesmerizing eyes 

That cried out and screamed 

 

I'm unique, 

The strongest independent woman you've ever seen.

So bend thy knee

And I'll show you some wild sights 

 

I know 

You've kneeled and prayed, every night, to see.

To make you mine

As I turn your whole world 

Right upside down 

So here's to you

My midnight African Queen, who makes me still go weak at my knees

Whenever I see your beautiful pictures

Just waiting for you to call me on 

(555) 555-1334 and come around

To knock on my front door so we can go around town, and paint it red 

When this

My only love letter is finally posted and found

And you hear my familiar voice 

Talking slowly in your head

As it is lovingly read

(C) Copyright John Duffy 

Image shared under fair usage policy 

The Showdown

 

The Showdown 

(A lone voice whispers)

I once knew Love

But like a bullet fired from

Wyatt Earp's Colt 45

It struck me down in the only showdown of my life

Now I walk around like a reborn sick Doc Holliday

Wondering 

How alone

I'll finish my play and stay alive 

(C) Copyright John Duffy

Image shared under fair usage policy 

Grief Revisited

 

(A lone voice whispers)

Every clock in here 

Even these old white wooden ones

As they tick so regimentally

Reminds me of you

Every single second

Every single minute 

Carries luminescent memories 

Of all the wild but lovely things

We used to do together 

As they suddenly manifest

Like a magician's trick

Of pulling a red rose 

Right out of the blue

And if my broken heart could beat

It would carry loud drum beats of revelations

So true

I would die once more

In palpable bliss

If I could write a parable

It would only be

I yearned once for a touch of your silky skin

And a taste of your red lipstick

Within one welcoming kiss

But got distracted

By the sweet voice

In the darkness

That strives

All good things to 

Underpin

And now

In The Great In-Between 

My parable 

If deciphered by an Illuminated One would read

If love is offered

Freely and

Willing without sin

Or greed

Clasp 

Hold and treasure it

And it's why now these sparkling twinkling lights

My reflections of you

Shine so bright in this ever-hot interdimensional dust

From dawn to dusk

Showcasing your image

To the empty husks 

Of the Ascended Ones

Night and day

That litter 

The Lord's Way

Come what may

So while these Baylore energies 

Magnify my thoughts into these words

Like a soft fingertip across your warm spine

I'll see you soon

Skyclad in blue

In your deepest of dreams

Wide-eyed

Mighty and cancer free

We'll be reunited once more

But not like Orpheus and Eurydice

To be snatched away by a lack of trust

But forever 

And that's why 

My love

I still see your reflection 

In these embers 

In this everlasting dust

In every single second

And every single minute

As these tired wooden clocks tick

From dawn to dusk

As the empty husks 

Of the Ascended Ones

Watch

Night and day

That litter 

The Lord's Way

(C)

Copyright John Duffy

 Image shared under fair usage policy

Questions from The Ether

 

(A lone voice whispers)

What drives you?

Is it love or compassion?

Introspection or just plain creation?

Are you now on your soul holy mission?

Navigating life using poetry to express, all those old noises you still hear?

When remembering all the things or people you once enjoyed?

Or when you were used like a toy.

Through clever, cunning, convincing ploys?

(C) Copyright John Duffy 

Image shared under fair usage policy 

Life Advice Number 4

 Life Advice Number 4

(A lone voice whispers)

Beware of green eyes

For they could covet your world

Sometimes subtle

Sometimes smiling 

Hoping you'll struggle

For they appear in so many diverse forms

From married couples

To those in your immediate bubble

So as you hustle whilst avoiding life's many deep puddles 

Always smile at those with green eyes

For a life filled with subtle rebuttals

They use as a cudgel

Is a sad life as they watch the good folk in the world

Aspire and rise 

With those twinkling green eyes

(C) Copyright John Duffy