The Enlightened Man Poem by John Duffy

The Enlightened Man

Who am I
To try to tame her

That wild beautiful angel

Who came
Like a ball of thunderous emotions

Into my life

An angel
A design of the divine
Who claimed she
Was all mine

Who am I

A circus ringmaster?

A woman
Is a gift to treasure
Her smiles
Miseries or plights

Are to be embraced
Throughout long nights

There might be
Circus ringmasters
Out there

Dominant and truly
Unfair

But I'm just a man
Punching above
My weight

Cherishing her
Like my holy
Morning prayer

Through emotional
Thunderstorms

Engaged
Within this beloved
Love affair

Our joining

A symbolic union
Bestowed
By fate

This majestic love who
Came to me of
Late

Requires more than
Harsh words
And phrases

She should be serenaded
Like the seraphim
She embodies
Whilst she ages

Away from segregation
Or persecutions

For foolish
Ringmasters
Always lose their prize

Me

I hold mine
Close

Beyond
Masculine definitions

But within
Understanding
Without permission

For the only ringmaster
I am in control
Of

Is my life
And all

As it slowly
Unfolds

To walk
Together with
Her

To whatever
Futures of beholds

Equality perpetually
Singing
Its soft sonnets

As we step over
Its invisible thresholds

As lonely
Ringmasters

Cling onto their empty chests
Of
Fools gold

Copyright John Duffy 2018