Writings by Shannon Agofsky

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- “The Ballad o’ Johnny McBlye”
- ALONE
- TEARS

“The Ballad o’ Johnny McBlye”

I
Young Johnny McBlye,
Was a rounder o’ a lad,
E’erything he did,
He gave all he had;
A true son o’ Erin,
Or so it was told,
Handsome as the Devil
An’ born to be bold;
Sure in the hunt,
On the battlefields true,
An’ many a father,
He gave reason for rue.

II
In young Johnny McBlye,
Nae flaw could be found,
Strong as an ox,
Faithful as a hound;
Gen’rous to a fault,
When granting a boon,
Wi’ quick flashing smile,
That made lasses swoon;
Skilled wi’ a sword,
An’ courage to spare,
There existed nae feat,
The he would’ na dare.

III
Young Johnny roamed an’ he rode,
He danced an’ he laugh’t,
He pursued wi’ aplomb,
The heros good craft;
By all he was loved,
For his fair heart an’ form,
But friends did’na hark,
There was coming a storm;
Which would damn a mans soul,
An’ wreck lives apace;
Oft Mans greatest folly,
Be a beautiful face.

IV
McBlye on wild stallion,
Wi’ his fellow did ride,
On that wicked day,
When Claire O’ Rielly he espied;
A siren song to his heart.
Like an arrow she sped,
An’ down lost lovers lane,
To his fate was he led;
By hair all aflame,
An’ a coquettish smile,
Behind which Claire hid
A snakes ven’mous guile.

V
Young Johnny McBlye,
Soon nae more took the field,
To friends ne’er more,
His time would he yield;
He went na to hunt,
He tipped na a cup,
E’en wi’ family nae more,
Did smitten lad sup;
He heeded na words,
He heard na their call,
For this faithless lass,
He forsook them all.

VI
All young Johnnys passion,
To her did he give,
Like Diedre to Naisi,
His sole reason to live;
But true love she answered,
Wi’ wile upon wile,
In black heart was laughter,
For that was her style;
First wi’ kisses an’ whispers,
Raise him to the sky,
Then spurn him an’ burn him,
Wi’ the scorn in her eye.

VII
Young Johnny desperate,
For answer did seek,
An’ honeyed tongue gave it,
When his madness did peak;
“Fergus McDougal be rich,
Or so I ha’ been told…
Surely your sharp blade,
Could part he an’ his gold?
We could marry soon after,
An’ live as we should,”
Quoth she wi’ a pout,
“If ye loved me, ye would!”

VIII
Johnny wrestled wi’ conscience,
But ne’er could resist,
Claires faerie-fey charm,
Nor the way that she kiss’t;
So into the castle,
But nae treasure be got,
‘Cept by bloody fight;
The armsmen stood fast,
None duty did shrink,
Till he ended their service,
Wi’ good sword an’ dirk.

IX
‘Hind young Johnny fleeing,
Dawn to castle did creep,
Lighting treasury plundered,
As the widows did weep;
Now wi’ name o’ an outlaw,
Claire fast by his side,
After them came eager bravos,
As fast as could ride;
They learn’t o’ his mettle,
In summers green glade,
Five more men laid low,
By edge o’ his blade.

X
Then young Johnny betrayed!
O’ gold or horse he had none,
Under cover o’ darkness,
Wi’ the loot Claire had run;
I’ was her plan all along,
An’ he but a tool,
Family honor forsaken,
An` played for a fool;
When McDougals came riding,
Ne’er his sword did he lift,
Though taunted an’ spat on,
Na a hair would he shift.

XI
Kin o’ young Johnny,
From near an’ far came,
To find their lad silent,
Wi’ head hung in shame;
He spoke na a word,
In his own defense,
Though friends they did plead,
An’ counsel good sense;
This the jury enraged,
So sent verdict awing,
From the end o’ a rope,
Come dawning, he’d swing.

XII 
This be tale o’ a lad,
Once so bold an’ so brave,
Who lies now alone,
In a forgotten grave;
Some say he roams still,
Restless spirit, debt unpaid,
On dark, rainy night,
In the form o’ a shade;
A lost soul to love,
For which he ha’ to die,
Can ye na weep,
For poor Johnny McBlye?

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ALONE

Loneliness, loneliness,
Darkness and despair,
Will I ever see
My love again?
Will I ever live
My life again?

You are miles and miles,
Lifetimes away,
What must I do
To see the dawn?

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TEARS

Once I was lost,
A searcher in the fog;
Seeking for that,
Which could never be found.

Then a hand was held forth,
To show me the way;
My hand in yours,
Heart to heart.

Now dangerous times,
You are so far away;
Must tears always be the aftermath
Of too much love?

By Shannon Agofsky

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Please read Shannon's profile or "Judge not, Lest ye be judged"

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