Dukkha

Is it duende, if I say the streets are empty, the nameless streets, empty, but watching, hollow, but watching, as if with soju eyes... as if with eyes that see me only as I seem, always as I seem, but never as I am.... would you call it beautiful, if pain is beautiful, would you call it duende, if there is art even in solitude? would you call it duende, ... or call it suffering? *** The title of the poem 'dukkha' is the Buddhist term commonly translated as "suffering". Additionally, 'duende' , or tener duende ("having duende") loosely means having soul, a heightened state of emotion, expression and authenticity, often connected with flamenco and poetry (see Garcia Lorca). Lastly, 'soju' is a traditional South Korean alcoholic beverage (the location wherein this poem was concieved) ****