Fate

We have little control or choice.

The sweet refrain

has no place

in my world.

 

A place soured

by the vitriol

and angst

of brutal

discontent.

 

A place where

soft words

are now harsh

lashes

of the whip.

 

A flailing, scourging

bitter thrash

upon my unprotected

Catholic  skin.

 

There is no calm,

no peace,

no gentle

cooing, sultry

voice

to sooth me,

only the metronome of

the confessional

penance I must

repeat.

 

And thus

I exist

in that damned inferno,

trapped

deep in that

choking cervix

of hell.

 

The cries

of the dead

echo from the walls

of this dungeon,

the blood of

tormented souls

dripping into

the cesspit,

feeding the

rabid black dogs

of Satan.

 

And so

I acquiesce

to my fate,

there is no

way out,

no looking back,

and there is

no second chance.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

A very dark write John. There has to be balance. Where there is dark there must always be a chance for light. One doesn't exist without the other. Here's a rope, of hope. Start climbing. Great expression in your lines.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I guess for many there is no hope, at least no real hope. The Kurds in Northern Syria caught between Assad and Erdogan. Or those feeling so 'black' they kill themselves. But we all seek the light Chris. Many thanks and good morning.

[Pryde Foltz]

The poet damned may go down but he goes down with aplomb and lyrical whimsy. A dark write lives here but it is sweet too for it effectiveness.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Why thank you dear Pryde. I am glad it is poetic license though lol

[Pryde Foltz]

I am very glad for you too:)LOL

[kentuck14]

I know this is heartfelt . .. . but I cannot agree with your final assessment. As long as we have breath there is a second chance. Hope someday you will realize this. All the best.
T

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Tom I assure you this is simply poetic license. Many thanks for reading and commenting.

[Edie Blue Starfish]

Light would not exist without dark, I think the greatest moments of goodness are born of the greatest moments of darkness. Enjoyed this one. Well done.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed some think so Edie but personally I think we know and feel goodness and humanity without any suffering, tragedy or angst. Many thanks.

[R.E. Ray]

Sadly, I relate to this poem. I've spent 26 plus years in law enforcement, and I'm often immersed in the sh*t of humanity. Still, I find goodness and some peace in fate. I suppose it's perspective, trying to see the good, like strangers showing up at the jail to pray for their fellow citizens, prepare food during a three-day program, and encourage them to take another path. And, when I see a five year old struggle to hold open a door for an elderly woman, I'm reminded goodness exists among the bad. This is a moving piece... art, music and poetry.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

So long as you can still see the good it gives one hope R.E so keep on trucking and many thanks.

[VelvetPotato]

I really enjoyed the hopelessness of this poem.I felt like it was a very accurate description of hell... almost as if I was there! Very disturbing on
a psychological level... and I mean that as a compliment! It reminded me of T.S. Elliot's "The Hollow Men," except maybe a bit more firey...
Thanks for the entertainment!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you for such a compliment and glad it hit the spot!

[Lydia Shutter]

A sort of purgatory. I think our relationship to religion....no matter which one....changes as we experience life. Our beliefs tend to reflect what we have been through. Your words are dark in this one....a feeling of no where left to turn. Powerful, John. Lydi**

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Lydi. Indeed the words and emotions are dark in this one. Hope all is well with you.

[Lydia Shutter]

Getting through life one day at a time....because we have no other choice, my friend.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed taht is all we can do at times but I guess that is why we write sometimes?

[Lydia Shutter]

Yes, it is a wonderful escape.

[Einstein Noodle]

well done! a Dante's Inferno for modern day acquiescence ...dark imaging ... very relatable on many levels... while reading the first four verses I thought of our country ... the USA ... and the viciousness of personal attacking tramping policy to completely forgotten ... but then I hit the "Catholic skin" (love that) and it all got personal ;) the human condition ... good and evil ... to struggle or give up are one thing .. but to give in to the darkness is never .... no not never ever .. such a good choice says i ... it can be far more frightening than one can imagine ..sharp ... natural rhythm .. clear theme .. powerful use of images ... now to give my good friend Bobby a listen to. :)
E.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am glad you tasted the marrow of this one 'E' and many thank yous for such an in-depth look and review.

[gram linski]

F*****g awesome, you been reading my diaries again, lo,l the tortured language, the broken words, spat in uncaring callous frown, despite the content, this was a f*****g joy to read,

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah gram we are carved from the same granite block! But you are the master when it comes to the tortured, vitriol. Many thanks.

[John the Baptist]

This one reeks of despair. It has the sound of one looking upon the gates of Dante's hell. I cannot fathom the acts that would consign one to this level of consciousness. It can only be depression or bad dope.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed despair as in the world of the Catholic who had it drummed into them that damnation awaited those who trangressed. Only dope I ever have is that wafting over my hedge from my neighbours garden lol! Many thanks JTB