If Desiderata Was A Person Poem by John Duffy

Like my name Desiderata means

Things wanted or needed


Are you ready to go willingly into the spinning grey void


That eternal kaleidescape that announces the dissolution that comes at the very end


With a taste of everlasting joy


Resounding in all your inner vestibules with pace


In this or any other given moment


If you are suddenly pulled from this life you desperately chase

And are then forever retired from its race?

You still have time you know

To embrace that sense of finding peace before you go


So try to end all physical or emotional wars


So that they can wither and be left in thousands of pieces


So others and you may live


As unwanted negative emotions surrender as they are depleted and defeated


So send out your words bravely and confidently


As your illustrious envoys


Carrying within them like loyal and faithful bannermen


All your inner truths


Always with courage choose to embrace or ignore others as is your sovereign right


For you have always been betrothed a rightful place


At your choice of Gods glorious tables


A sacred place to sing and tell old much-loved stories of family and friends


Into the endless night


But until then

Always remember you are a child of an untameable universe

An embodiment of all its spectacular might


So elect to resist mirroring yourself to others


For that in itself can herald and give birth to a multitude of distress


Linked to bitterness and jealousy


Two of the original sins known in some circles


As the Darkness favourite fathers and mothers


Celebrate instead your own life as an everlasting testimony of being alive


A rare enjoyment denied to so many worldwide


Even though they diligently and quietly strive to survive


Take precautions when looking for true love and take care in all your worldly affairs


For even in this self-evolving world


A fluid fast-moving place where even your soul may thirst


There are still many devious strains of deception


Just reborn again from Sodom

One of the original Babylonian versions of the first


But take faith in whatever form it beckons with a gentle hand


For brave souls just hidden inside many good people


Still remain


Kindred souls who'll freely

Without any invisible agendas or programs


Will try to guide you through this life's sometimes sad falling rain with nothing to gain


Above all be you for no one else can


See those falls and drumbeats of failure


Those sad scars you still and forever will wear deep down inside from many old wars


They are your spiritual purple tokens and golden medals


Trophies on gilded shelves where no one feels or sees but you


All metaphorical symbols from difficult times

From significant moments once conquered or still mountains to climb to help you get through


For you are you


Your own version of your empires and kingdoms


Your own king or appointed queen


And like all rulers of vast dominions


You should always explore advice


So seek out those without sharp knives for they can guide you to newer plateau's


So your life can once again begin


As new relationships or much-needed things unfold


And those old suitcases filled with old sins are vanquished and relinquished


In quiet moments of solitude

Let not overthinking destroy your mood


For by doing so


Fear and loneliness can suddenly appear


Causing happiness and joy to be forced to stand down


To eventually over time

Slowly deteriorate and sink


And then like a talented magician


Chose to disappear before you can blink


In the end of all ends


Strive to look back on your life with a wry smile that you never willfully left any true friends or family behind


Be at peace with the deep thought that the memories and stories linked to you will never cease


And you held out the golden lit touch of a friendship to all the kindred you could find


Be at unity with your life and always remember


This life is like a Shakespearean Midsummer Night's Dream


Many new adventures remain unseen where you'll forever run free


When your time is called to go through that other silver door that connects this life

To The Great In-Between

But until then

Love your life and live


Use these words to find the courage and strength to be you


For all the watchers
The many friends or foes to see


For you have so much more to still give

For in the end

It's all you can be
It's why you're still alive


Copyright John Duffy