Undressing the Blues

‘They’ say there is no dress rehearsal in what is called life . . . Who are they what garments what is heard before and again? Existence or essence or merely the process of life-long learning? Does happiness require bad times for the light to shine strongly? Jean Paul had lived a care free and yet somewhat shallow reality Solid marriage to Janet five healthy children and good occupation Money flowed freely the kiddies excelled and yet drama unfolded A fairy tale story envied by other’s turned into a tragic comedy Personas revealed their true colours unmasked and unhinged When the book of life turned sour and wine became whine ‘Everything is wrong in this union and only you are at fault’ ‘What has gone pear shaped is it not a Garden of Eden?’ ‘You will have to find out and I will not help in the process’ A shattered world of combusted dreams and morbid depression Jean Paul chose alcohol Buddhism therapy and dwindled away His clothes wore ragged and thread bare and suicide beckoned Dangling from a string of decomposition he rotted in despair Withered and cracked open like an apple from hell he decayed Putrescent hopelessness festered and yet the last laugh was on him Pauline appeared out of nowhere with a beautiful mind and caring Compassion just when she fought her own demons and downfall A sad poet herself on the cliff edge balancing on a towering abyss ‘I have waited all my life for a Prince to hand me a sweet peach’ ‘You are the moon and I am the spoon’ and they curled up together A moon spoon rhapsody as they eloped into stars and their heaven Shared the fruit of their hard labour in searching for ultimate freedom Combined reason and feeling bound at hips body soul mind and sweet bliss A juicy affair of love and playful passion in the wetlands of kindness The dry run was over no need for rehearsal the Universe had spoken When Jean Paul took of her blue satin dress unimaginable beauty . . . The two lovers shed more than their clothes and the story continues Life is not merely about sex drugs and rocking roll in the orchard but The granting of a second chance in the hay stack of unconditional trust A blue dress the resolution of meaning the rescue of a flickering candle ‘They say there is no dress rehearsal . . .’ but new life changes essence 20th January 2019